Greater guinea pig (Cavia aperea). Widely distributed across grasslands, savannas, and shrublands of South America, it occurs from about 400 to 3,000 m in elevation. It has a compact, stocky body with virtually no tail and weighs a few hundred grams. A grazer that feeds mainly on grasses, it commonly eats Poaceae and also consumes seeds and rhizomes. Diurnal and forming small social groups, it does not dig burrows but rests in dense vegetation. Breeding occurs year-round; gestation is about two months and typically two young are born. Because it has a wide range and stable population, its conservation status is Least Concern.