About Galea spixii (Wagler, 1831)
Spix's yellow-toothed cavy, with the scientific name Galea spixii, is a cavy species of rodent native to South America. It is found in Bolivia east of the Andes, and across most of south central to northeastern Brazil. This species inhabits open savanna and semiarid habitats, including the Brazilian Cerrado and Caatinga. Its karyotype is 2n = 64 and FN = 118. Galea spixii is similar to G. musteloides, and the two may actually be the same species. Galea spixii tolerates a wide range of environmental changes, but requires open habitats. It is the most stable species within the genus Galea, as it is extremely abundant across its entire range. Gestation for this species lasts approximately fifty days. Litter size ranges from one to five offspring, with an average of three. Young are born with hair and open eyes. Sexual maturation timing differs between the two sexes: female Galea spixii develop an open vagina at approximately 80 days old, while males complete testicular descent at around 135 days old. Males and females of this species are aggressive toward each other, and notable paternal care is rare. Aggressiveness increases when females enter estrus. Males compete aggressively with other males when approaching females to mate. One Brazilian study placed nine male cavies euthanized to test sperm recovery, by either soaking or injecting sperm into a chemically buffered liquid. The study found no distinct differences in results between the soaking and injection methods.
