Rock cavy
Rock cavy | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Caviidae |
Genus: | Kerodon |
Species: | K. rupestris
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Binomial name | |
Kerodon rupestris (Wied-Neuwied, 1820)
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The rock cavy or mocó (Kerodon rupestris) is a
The rock cavy is called mocó in Brazilian Portuguese, and koriko pexerumen in the Xukuru language of Pernambuco, Brazil.[3]
Description
The rock cavy is a fairly large
In appearance and habit, they closely resemble the unrelated African rock hyraxes (an example of convergent evolution).[5] They are herbivorous, feeding on seeds and leaves of the scrubby vegetation that grows in their territories. This vegetation consists of tender leaves and certain species of creeper.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Rock cavies are found in dry, rocky areas with low, scrubby vegetation, and they prefer to reside close to stony mountainsides and hills.[5] They are native to eastern Brazil, from eastern Piauí state to Minas Gerais state, and have been introduced to the island of Fernando de Noronha, off the eastern coast of Brazil.[1][2]
Phylogeny
Rock cavies belong to the order
Behavior
Rock cavies usually shelter in crevices. They may be seen resting at all times of day, but are
Rock cavies live in groups, centered around rock-sheltered dens. Each rock cavy group has an
They can sometimes display
Studies show that rock cavies have a direct link between their retina and the mediodorsal nucleus in the thalamus, which may provide them with strong visual recognition, emotional learning, and/or enhanced object-reward associative memory.[5] This may partly explain why they are found living in large groups.[further explanation needed]
Reproduction
Females weigh 700-800 g and give birth to only one or two young, but several litters per year are common. The gestation period averages 75 days. The newborn cavies weigh 90 g.[9][10][4]
The placenta for a rock cavy is similar to other hystricomorph rodents: They have several lobes that are lined with blood vessels and undergo a counter-current blood flow. Blood vessels run from the mother along the placenta and then vessels run from the fetus back over the mother's vessels. This allows for a better flow of oxygen between the mother and the fetus.[10][a]
Parental care
The young are able to eat solid food at 3 days old, but continue to nurse for up to 7 weeks. The milk produced for these young is very dense in energy. This may be due to the lack of water availability in their environment.[9][4]
Both male and female rock cavies care for their young. When both parents are present, the females spend more time with their young than the males do. When the male is absent, the females spend more time with their young than they do when the male is present. Females that raise young on their own are more aggressive than females that raise the young with a partner. The young raised by single mothers also gain more weight while nursing compared to those raised by both parents.[4]
Threats and protection
Rock cavies are
Footnotes
- ^ The most unique feature of the rock cavy placenta is the presence of a subplacenta. Its function is not completely known, but may have a role in hormone secretion. The vessels from the mother and fetus occur in different places in the subplacenta, so it is not used for counter-current exchange.[11]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b Gasparini, J.L.; Peloso, P.L.; Sazima, I. (2007). "New opportunities and hazards brought by humans to the island habitat of the skink Euprepis atlanticus". Herpetological Bulletin. 100: 30–33.
- ^ Lapenda, Geraldo Calábria (1962). "O dialecto Xucuru". Doxa. Departamento de Cultura do Diretório Acadêmico da Faculdade de Filosofia de Pernambuco. Revista Oficial. Vol. ano X. Universidade do Recife. pp. 11–23.
- ^ .
- ^ S2CID 35236430.
- PMID 11861886.
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Bagemihl, Bruce (2000). Biological Exuberance: Animal homosexuality and natural diversity.
- ^ S2CID 87913507.
- ^ PMID 15081638.
- ^ PMID 16310042.
- ^ "Mamíferos - Kerodon rupestris (Wied-Neuwied, 1820) - Mocó". Instituto de Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade. species 6106.
Further reading
- Eisenberg, John F.; Redford, Kent H. (2000). Mammals of Neotropics: Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil.