The word 'cavy' is a correct and usable term in written English.
It refers to a type of small, domesticated rodent, also known as a guinea pig. You can use 'cavy' in any situation where you would normally use the word 'guinea pig'. For example: - I just got a new cavy as a pet. - The cavy is a popular choice for first-time rodent owners. - The cavy's fur is soft and cuddly. - The cavy squeaked happily as it munched on a carrot.
The rock cavy dwells among boulders in dry areas of eastern Brazil, whereas yellow-toothed and mountain cavies live in grassy, rocky, and brushy habitats in the Andes Mountains from Peru to Argentina at elevations of up to 4,000 metres (13,000 feet).
Wildlife in the region includes now rare guanacos and rheas, as well as eagles and herons, the Patagonian cavy (mará) and other burrowing rodents, mountain cats and pumas, and various poisonous snakes.
Mara, either of two South American rodents in the genus Dolichotis of the cavy family, the Patagonian mara (D. patagonum) or the Chacoan mara (D. salinicola).
Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), a domesticated species of South American rodent belonging to the cavy family (Caviidae).
Animals domesticated in the Americas included the alpaca (Lama pacos), the llama (Lama glama), the cavy, or guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata), and the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).
It resembles the cavy and guinea pig of the family Caviidae.
Domesticates from South America include squash (c. 8400 8000 bce), peanuts (c. 6500 bce), lima beans (c. 5000 bce), potatoes (c. 2500 bce), and cavies (guinea pigs; c. 1000 bce); domesticated corn and cassava began to be used in South America between about 2000 and 1500 bce.
Most cavies bear litters of 1 to 4 young, but wild guinea pigs have up to 5 young, and the domestic guinea pig may bear from 1 to 13 young per litter.
Most cavies are moderately large, weighing 200 to 1,500 grams (0.4 to 3.3 pounds) with a body 15 to 40 cm (6 to 16 inches) long.
Cavies range from Venezuela to southern Patagonia but are not found in western Chile or most of the Amazon River basin.
It resembles other cavies in having a robust body with short limbs, large head and eyes, and short ears.
