Greater guinea pig: Where It Lives, Map & Facts

Where the greater guinea pig lives – recorded in 1 country, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.

Scientific name	Cavia magna
Group	Mice, rats & other rodents
Status	Least concern (Wikidata, IUCN category label)
Found in	1 country
Continents	South America
Class	Mammal
Order	Rodentia
Family	Caviidae

Where does the greater guinea pig live?

Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the greater guinea pig in 1 country or territory across South America. Wikidata gives its range as: Brazil.

Brazil

Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.

Is the greater guinea pig endangered?

The greater guinea pig’s conservation status recorded in Wikidata is “Least concern” (an IUCN Red List category label). Source: Wikidata.

What kind of animal is the greater guinea pig?

The greater guinea pig (Cavia magna) is a mammal in the order Rodentia and the family Caviidae, genus Cavia. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)

About the greater guinea pig

Cavia magna, commonly known as the greater guinea pig, is a species of rodent in the family Caviidae, native to South America. It is found primarily in the coastal regions of southern Brazil and Uruguay, inhabiting grasslands, marshes, and other wetland environments. Cavia magna is closely related to the domesticated guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) but is distinct in its larger size and semi-aquatic habitat preferences.

This species exhibits adaptations to its wetland habitats, including a preference for dense vegetation near water. Greater guinea pigs are herbivorous, feeding on grasses, sedges, and other vegetation, and play a role in maintaining the ecological balance of their native habitats. Unlike their domesticated relatives, they are not kept as pets and are primarily studied in the context of their ecological and evolutionary significance.

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Greater guinea pig (revision 1378663520), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q1762803 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).