Microcavia fossil map
Where fossils of Microcavia have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 5.333 million years ago to the present (Zanclean to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Caviidae |
| Named by | Gervais and Ameghino 1880 |
| Fossil records | 48 occurrences at 20 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru |
| Rock formations | txn:42108, Lujan, UquĂa, VorohuĂ©, Monte Hermoso, Chapadmalal |
About Microcavia
Microcavia (mountain cavies) is a genus of rodents in the family Caviidae. They are unique within their family in that their premolar teeth do not grow and replace the original deciduous cheek teeth until after the animal is born; in other genera this occurs in the womb.
It contains six extant species:
Southern mountain cavy, M. australis
Jayat's mountain cavy, M. jayat
Thomas's mountain cavy, M. maenas
Andean mountain cavy, M. niata
Shipton's mountain cavy, M. shiptoni
Sorojchi mountain cavy, M. sorojchi
The extant species, Microcavia Australis, Southern Mountain cavy, are semi-fossorial, which means they are animals that have adapted to living underground by digging into burrows & tunnels. M. Australis are daytime and social rodent native to South America. They inhibit arid and semiarid lowlands and valleys and can be seen in certain habitats like Dunes, Dessert and dryer lands.
For example, in Southwestern Argentina, it prefers, riparian habitats, forested areas and sandy forest flats. While in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, southern cavies inhibit areas where thornbushes are the predominant vegetation. Microcavia contributes to the ecological system of the world, through vegetation, ways of living, and adaptability.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Microcavia (revision 1366354810), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q244242.
