Yellow-toothed guinea pig
| Yellow-toothed guinea pig | ||||||||||||
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Munster guinea pig ( G. monasteriensis ) |
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| Galea | ||||||||||||
| Meyen , 1832 |
The yellow-toothed guinea pigs ( Galea ) are a genus from the family of the guinea pigs (Caviidae) within the rodents (Rodentia). The genus is divided into four types.
distribution
Yellow-toothed guinea pigs are native to central and southern South America. Their distribution area extends from southern Peru and Brazil to central Argentina .
description
As the name suggests, these animals differ from the real guinea pigs ( cavy ), to which the house guinea pigs also belong, by their yellow or orange teeth . In addition, their physique is stockier, their fur is lighter in color, and their hair is softer and shorter. They have short legs with sharp claws and the lack of a tail in common with the other guinea pigs. These animals reach a head trunk length of 15 to 25 centimeters and a weight of 300 to 600 grams.
Way of life
These animals primarily inhabit grasslands and rocky regions. They usually live together in smaller groups in which a strict hierarchy is established within the sexes, which is determined by age or by fighting. The Munster guinea pig ( G. monasteriensis ), on the other hand, is reported to be monogamous.
These animals are predominantly diurnal, they use self-dug burrows, abandoned burrows of other animals or small caves and crevices as shelter. They are real herbivores that primarily eat grasses and perennials.
Reproduction
Yellow-toothed guinea pigs can give birth all year round, but the peak of births is in spring. The female can give birth up to seven times a year, the gestation period is 50 to 60 days and the litter size is between one and seven (usually two or three). Newborns are fleeing nests who walk shortly after birth and can eat solid food. After three weeks they are weaned, after two to three months they become sexually mature. The maximum age of an animal in captivity was just under ten years.
The species
- Brandt's yellow-toothed guinea pig ( Galea flavidens ) is native to Brazil .
- The Munster guinea pig ( G. monasteriensis ) from Bolivia was only recognized as a species in 2004. They live monogamous.
- The weasel guinea pig ( Galea musteloides ) is the best known species. Its distribution area extends from Peru to central Argentina . They live in groups and reproduce promiscuously
- Yellow-toothed guinea pig ( Galea spixii ) lives in Brazil, Paraguay and eastern Bolivia.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Munster Guinea Pig - Germans discover new species of mammal. ( Memento of the original from February 19, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on: stern.de , accessed on February 19, 2015.
- ↑ N. Sachser, E. Schwarz-Weig, A. Keil, JT Epplen: Behavioral strategies, testis size, and resproductive success in two caviomorph rodents with different mating systems. In: Behavior. 136, 1999, pp. 1203-1217. doi: 10.1163 / 156853999501720
