Cavia tschudii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CAVIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cavia tschudii

Species Authority:

Fitzinger, 1867

Common Name/s:

English

–

Montane Guinea Pig

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Dunnum, J., Patterson, B. & Zeballos, H. & Teta, P.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining at a rate to qualify for inclusion in a threat category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in Peru, highland Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and northeastern Chile (Woods and Kilpatrick, 2005). It occurs from around 3,000 to around 4,300 m asl (Dunnum, 2003; Emmons, 2001). It is not present in the Yungas of the eastern versant of the Andes or the lowlands of Bolivia (Dunnum, 2003).
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia; Chile; Peru
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is considered a common species, although there are not many records from Argentina.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is typically found in moist habitats with scattered rocks and close to dense riparian habitats (including boggy areas). In Peru the species lives in thick grass or brushy grasslands and disturbed gallery forest in which it makes distinct runways. It is present in both primary and disturbed habitats. In Argentina it has been reported to live in burrows with multiple entrances. In captivity the gestation period is 63.3 days, litters average 1.9 (range 1-4), and the average age of first reproduction is two months (Weir, 1974; Eisenberg and Redford, 1999).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is typically found in moist habitats with scattered rocks and close to dense riparian habitats (including boggy areas). In Peru the species lives in thick grass or brushy grasslands and disturbed gallery forest in which it makes distinct runways. It is present in both primary and disturbed habitats. In Argentina it has been reported to live in burrows with multiple entrances. In captivity the gestation period is 63.3 days, litters average 1.9 (range 1-4), and the average age of first reproduction is two months (Weir, 1974; Eisenberg and Redford, 1999).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It has been recorded from 12 protected areas in Peru; it is present in at least two protected areas in Bolivia. No conservation measures are needed for this species.

Conservation Actions:

It has been recorded from 12 protected areas in Peru; it is present in at least two protected areas in Bolivia. No conservation measures are needed for this species.

Citation:	Dunnum, J., Patterson, B. & Zeballos, H. & Teta, P. 2008. Cavia tschudii. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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