About Cavia aperea Erxleben, 1777
This is the scientific description of the Brazilian guinea pig, Cavia aperea Erxleben, 1777. It is a medium-sized guinea pig. Adult individuals reach a length of approximately 272 mm (11 in) and weigh 637 grams (22.5 oz). Its tail measures around 2.4 mm, making it almost non-existent. The dorsal fur is dark olive-brown mixed with brown and black, while the underparts are pale grey or yellowish-grey. For its karyotype, the diploid number is 2n = 64. The fundamental number (FN) is reportedly variable: it is 116 or 128 for the subspecies C. a. aperea, and 128 for the subspecies C. a. pamparum. This species has a wide distribution across South America, occurring at altitudes between 400 and 3,000 metres (1,300 and 9,800 ft) above sea level. Its range extends from Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela to northern areas of Argentina. Its typical habitat is open grassland and savannah.
