Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by  Paul Smith, Arne Lesterhuis, Karina Atkinson, Para La Tierra and Sylvia Qu and are used with their permission.
PAMPAS CAVY Cavia aperea
In case you ever wondered what the wild form of your pet guinea-pig looks like, well here he is in all his glory. Properly known as a "Cavy" he is a robust, tail-less rodent that lives in small groups. This is one of the most commonly-encountered mammals in Paraguay, being found in grassy areas frequently near water and often close to human habitation.
Click on the images to enlarge them
FIGURE 1 - (FPMAM549PH) Adult, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
FIGURE 2 - (FPMAM550PH) Adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Sylvia Qu July 2008).
FIGURE 3 - (FPMAM551PH) Adult, Isla Yacyreta, Departamento Misiones (Paul Smith October 2009).
FIGURE 4 - (FPMAM552PH) Subadult lateral, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departmento San Pedro (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 5 - (FPMAM553PH) Same individual dorsal (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 6 - (FPMAM554PH) Same individual ventral (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 7 - (FPMAM555PH) Same individual head detail (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 8 - (FPMAM556PH) Same individual ear (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 9 - (FPMAM557PH) Same individual head dorsal (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 10 - (FPMAM558PH) Same individual teeth (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 11 - (FPMAM746PH) Same individual forefoot upperside (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 12 - (FPMAM747PH) Same individual forefoot underside(Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 13 - (FPMAM748PH) Same individual hindfoot upperside (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 14 - (FPMAM749PH) Same individual hindfoot underside (Karina Atkinson September 2010 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 15 - (FPMAM750PH) Dung, Arroyo Clementina, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 16 - (FPMAM1103PH) Runway tunnel, Isla Yacyreta, Departamento Misiones (Paul Smith October 2012).
VIDEO - (FPMAM913VI) Adult fleeing, Estancia Kanguery, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith November 2010)
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DORSAL

DORSAL
VENTRAL

VENTRAL
LATERAL

LATERAL
Pampas Cavy Cavia aperea
DORSAL (FPMAM751PH); VENTRAL (FPMAM752PH); LATERAL (FPMAM753PH)
Skulls courtesy of Centro de Mastozoologia del Paraguay, Asunción