Home \ Central Park Zoo \

Central Park Zoo Amphibians Bats Birds - Doves and Pigeons - Parrots Black and White Ruffed Lemurs Black-necked Cranes Black-Necked Swans California Sea Lion Fish Frogs Harbor Seal Insects & Arthropods Japanese Macaque Lizards Mouse Deer Penguins Polar Bears Red Panda Rock Cavy Snakes Snow Leopard Swan Goose Tamandua Tamarins - Cotton-Top Tamarin - Golden Lion-Headed Tamarin - Silvery Marmoset Toads Tortoises Tufted Puffins Two-Toed Sloth

Rock Cavy ( Kerodon rupestris)

Judithwolfe.com

Zoo collection includes: Two - Cavies are relatives of the domestic Guinea pig

Found in the wild: Eastern Brazil in dry rocky areas near stony mountains and hills

See Them at the Central Park Zoo: In the glass habitat at entrance to the Tropic Zone.  They can be seen with the Keel-Billed Toucan and the two Conures.

Description: Small rodent that resembles the rock hyrax with a face that looks like a squirrel. They have heavily padded feet, are quite agile, and are exceptional climbers. Coat is gray, grizzled with white and black. Throat is white and the belly is yellowish-white. The rump and backs of thighs are reddish. There is no tail and both sexes look similar.

What do they eat:  Leaves, grasses, seeds

Life span: Four years

Threats: Least concerned

Fun Facts: Rock cavies make a variety of vocalizations, including an alarm whistle, chirps, and squeaks.
These rodents are related to domestic guinea pigs. One or two young. Several litters per year are common. They live in small family groups.  They have nails growing out of their skin with a single grooming claw on the inside hind toes.

Join Our Newsletter Want to keep up with what's going on in Central Park? Sign up for one or all of our newsletters! We will NEVER share your address.	Weekly Newsletter (?) Special Edition (?) Monthly Newsletter (?)