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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 12.9 years (captivity) Observations: One captive specimen was still alive at 12.9 years of age (Richard Weigl 2005).
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Behavior

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Rock cavies produce a variety of vocalizations, many of which are thought to represent anxiety or fear. Five distinct vocalizations are described, yet few are thought to directly communicate information to other individuals. Although scent marking is common among other caviids, rock cavies are not known to regularly scent mark. Rather, posturing and tactile interactions allow rock cavies to communicate, as individuals are often in close proximity around rock pile colonies. Social rank is continually communicated through allogrooming and agonistic interactions which include head thrusts and chases.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Conservation Status

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Although habitat destruction and hunting have threatened rock cavies in the past, K. rupestris is currently listed as "least concern". Numerous protected areas currently provide refuge from hunting and habitat loss.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Benefits

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There are no known adverse affects of K. rupestris on humans.

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Humans native to northeastern Brazil regularly hunt rock cavies for meat. Efforts have even been made to domesticate them as a reliable food source in areas afflicted by drought and poverty. Although not common, rock cavies can be kept as pets as well. Medicinal uses of K. rupestris include rubbing rock cavy fat under the eyes to ease "tired eyes" and mixing rock cavy manure with coffee to treat effusion.

Positive Impacts: pet trade ; food ; source of medicine or drug

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Associations

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Rock cavies are the only mammal endemic to the Caatinga region of Brazil. Because of their specializations towards living in such an unpredictable environment, few other mammals continually interact with rock cavies. Dry periods drive out many other mammals, and no specific predators are mentioned in the literature. Presumably, however, local avian and mammalian carnivores prey on rock cavies. As generalist folivores, rock cavies impact a variety of local flora through consumption of leaves, bark, and flowers. Parasitic nematodes are also found in the large intestines of rock cavies.

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

  • nematodes (Nematoda)
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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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Although known as a habitat specialist, rock cavies are generalist folivores where diet is concerned. In their unpredictable Caatinga environment, drought often leaves trees leafless. During dry periods, vegetation continues to grow in the rock piles where rock cavies live, allowing colonies to live through periods of low productivity. During periods of high productivity, rock cavies feed on leaves, buds, flowers, and bark, most often foraging from the ground or on tree branches. In captivity, rock cavies eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; flowers

Other Foods: dung

Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore ); coprophage

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Distribution

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Kerodon rupestris is endemic to the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil known as the Caatinga.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Habitat

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Within the Caatinga region, K. rupestris is confined to rocky terrain characterized by large granitic boulder outcroppings. In these outcroppings, rifts and hollows create space for K. rupestris to dwell and avoid predation. Environmental conditions are unpredictable; annual rainfall varies between 1000 and 400 mm, and flooding and drought can occur throughout the year.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; scrub forest

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Life Expectancy

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Rock cavies are relatively long lived for inhabiting such an unpredictable environment. In captivity, individuals live as many as 11 years. In the wild, the probability of an individual living to 3 years of age is 91%.

Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
11 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
5 years.

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Morphology

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Kerodon rupestris is a hystricomorph rodent very similar in appearance to Cavia species. The tail is absent or vestigial, adult weight is around 1000 g, and the ears are short. Adult length is between 200 to 400 mm and is occasionally longer. Rock cavies have whitish throats, while other upper parts are generally grayish, and the stomach is yellowish brown. The rostrum is longer than other caviids and the incisor to premolar diastema is proportionally greater. Unlike other caviids, K. rupestris has blunted nails on all digits excepting a small grooming claw on the outermost digit of the foot, and the hands and feet are additionally padded with a leather-like surface. Other than size differences, day-old highly precocial young appear very similar to adults.

Range mass: 900 to 1000 g.

Range length: 200 to 400 mm.

Range basal metabolic rate: .41 to .59 cm3.O2/g/hr.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Associations

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Using sound or smell, rock cavies are able to detect predators approaching from a distance. The confines of surrounding rock hollows provide predator protection, and "alarm whistle" vocalizations are used to alert the colony to take refuge when needed. Once the repeated high pitch whistle is heard, surrounding individuals echo the call. When predators are seen approaching, individuals flee into surrounding rocks. This decreases the chance of any one individual indiscriminately running toward the approaching predator. The predator avoidance strategy employed by rock cavies is presumably a specialist adaptation to their rocky habitat which limits field of view and visual predator detection.

Anti-predator Adaptations: aposematic

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web
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Reproduction

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Male rock cavies defend hollows and dens made by the surrounding granitic boulders. Females seek refuge in these dens and a system of resource-defense polygyny emerges as a result. Mates are easy to find, therefore, a well established dominance hierarchy exists among males. Dominant males defend prized rock piles with large harems and are able to mate more frequently than subordinates. During mating, multiple males encircle one female in order to prevent her escape. Often these males include the dominant male and his progeny, as all others are treated aggressively. After encircling, the dominant male mounts the female to copulate.

Mating System: polygynous

Rock cavies breed year round and give birth to 1 to 3 highly precocial young per pregnancy, although singleton births are most common. They have a gestation period of 76 days which is notably longer than other caviids. Infants are weaned at 35 days, and juveniles reach sexual maturity around 133 days. Small litter size, comparatively long gestation period, and other reproductive parameters (i.e. low birth mass: maternal mass ratio) are considered specialist adaptations to rigid maternal energy constraints and a highly unpredictable environment.

Breeding interval: Female rock cavies have post-partum estrous and give birth up to three times a year.

Breeding season: Rock cavies breed year round.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 3.

Average number of offspring: 1.5.

Range gestation period: 75.36 to 76.33 days.

Average gestation period: 76 days.

Average weaning age: 35.17 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 133 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 133 days.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous ; post-partum estrous

Rock cavies exhibit well developed parental care. Both sexes engage in grooming, huddling, and indirect social behaviors which rear the young until independence. Weaning occurs at 35 days, yet young have been observed foraging and eating vegetation as early as 2 days after birth. Early consumption of whole food suggests that suckling behavior may involve socialization as well as nourishment. After weaning, juveniles live in their fathers' den. Males born to the dominant male are not treated aggressively by their father. Living among his harem allows for increased socialization and a potential chance to become dominant in the future. Females born to dominant males live in the harem as potential mates, yet aggression from other females, including the mother, is common. Young females may leave the den as a result.

Parental Investment: precocial ; male parental care ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female); post-independence association with parents

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White, A. 2009. "Kerodon rupestris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kerodon_rupestris.html
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Alex White, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rock cavy

provided by wikipedia EN

The rock cavy or mocó (Kerodon rupestris) is a cavy species endemic to eastern Brazil which has also been introduced to the Atlantic island of Fernando de Noronha.[2]:  30 

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 rodent weighing up to 1 kg (2.2 lb). Like other cavy species, their tails are vestigial or absent. Their backs are grey-brown and their bellies tan to light brown.[4]

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 Rodentia, suborder Hystricomorpha, based on their porcupine-like jaw muscles.[4] They are in the family Caviidae (guinea pig-like rodents), which has three subfamilies (formerly two); rock cavies have recently been placed in a new subfamily Hydrochaerinae, with the capybaras, and with the closely related rainforest-dwelling acrobatic cavy.[6][7]

Behavior

Rock cavies usually shelter in crevices. They may be seen resting at all times of day, but are crepuscular – active mostly at dawn and dusk.[5] They are able to climb, which makes reaching leaves, seeds, and occasional fruits easier.[4]

Rock cavies live in groups, centered around rock-sheltered dens. Each rock cavy group has an alpha or dominant male and several females. The males are territorial, defending rock pile shelters against other adult males. The rock piles are chosen to impress the females; once a female chooses a rock pile, she indirectly chooses its guardian as her mate.[4]

They can sometimes display homosexual behavior, with males courting other males. Some paedophilic behavior has also been displayed, with adult males courting juvenile males.[4][8]

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.

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 endemic to several protected areas, and reproduce quickly, so they are currently listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List.[1] They are frequently hunted as food by local human populations, which resulted in population decline of 30% in the last 10 years.[12] Their range is also being reduced due to deforestation. Efforts are underway to breed rock cavies in captivity as a potential food source.[11]

Footnotes

  1. ^ 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

  1. ^ a b c Catzeflis, F.; Patton J.; Percequillo, A.; Weksler, M. (2016). "Kerodon rupestris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10988A22190269. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10988A22190269.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Tasse, Judy (1986). "Maternal and paternal care in the rock cavy, Kerodon rupestris, a South American Hystricomorph rodent". Zoo Biology. 5 (1): 27–43. doi:10.1002/zoo.1430050105.
  5. ^ a b c d Nascimento, Expedito Silva do; et al. (2010). "Retinal afferents to the thalamic mediodorsal nucleus in the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris)". Neuroscience Letters. 475 (1): 38–43. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2010.03.040. PMID 20338219. S2CID 35236430.
  6. ^ Rowe, Diane L.; Honeycutt, Rodney L. (March 2002). "Phylogenetic relationships, ecological correlates, and molecular evolution within the Cavioidea (Mammalia, Rodentia)". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 19 (3): 263–277. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a004080. PMID 11861886.
  7. ^ Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1556. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  8. ^ Bagemihl, Bruce (2000). Biological Exuberance: Animal homosexuality and natural diversity.
  9. ^ a b Derrickson, Elissa Miller; et al. (1996). "Milk composition of two precocial, arid-dwelling rodents: Kerodon rupestris and Acomys cahirinus". Physiological Zoology. 69 (6): 1402–1418. doi:10.1086/physzool.69.6.30164266. S2CID 87913507.
  10. ^ a b Miglino, M.A.; et al. (2004). "Vascular organization of the Hystricomorph placenta: A comparative study in the agouti, capybara, guinea pig, paca, and rock cavy". Placenta. 25 (5): 438–448. doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2003.11.002. PMID 15081638.
  11. ^ a b Oliveira, M.F.; et al. (2006). "Placentation in the rock cavy, Kerodon rupestris (Wied)". Placenta. 27 (1): 87–97. doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2004.11.012. PMID 16310042.
  12. ^ "Mamíferos - Kerodon rupestris (Wied-Neuwied, 1820) - Mocó". Instituto de Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade. species 6106.
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Rock cavy: Brief Summary

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The rock cavy or mocó (Kerodon rupestris) is a cavy species endemic to eastern Brazil which has also been introduced to the Atlantic island of Fernando de Noronha.:  30 

The rock cavy is called mocó in Brazilian Portuguese, and koriko pexerumen in the Xukuru language of Pernambuco, Brazil.

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