Rock cavy The rock cavies belong to the subfamily Caviinae along with the guinea pig, desert cavy, and cuis. Rock cavies are found in dry, rocky areas with low, scrubby vegetation, and they like to reside close to stony mountains and hills. In appearance and habits they closely resemble the unrelated rock hyrax of Africa (an example of convergent evolution). They usually shelter in crevices. They are reportedly seen at day and night, but are most active at dawn or dusk. Animals most active at this time are known as crepuscular. Studies show that there is a direct link between the retina
Muenster yellow-toothed cavy social play with their offspring and groom them rather than being aggressive. When mothers of this species and their pups are put into a strange environment, the presence of the mothers mitigates increases in blood cortisol levels in their pups; however, this is not observed when the pups are moved together with other mothers that are not their own. "G. monasteriensis" is both sexually and socially monogamous. Both males and females of "G. monasteriensis" defend their territories and care for their pups. Muenster yellow-toothed cavy The Muenster yellow-toothed cavy (Galea monasteriensis) is a species of rodent in the family Caviidae.