A family of rodents that includes guinea pigs, rock cavies, and related animals found in South America.
From Latin 'cavea' meaning 'cage' or 'hollow,' combined with the scientific suffix '-idae' used to denote animal families. The name originally referred to the hollow or chambered structures where these animals live.
Guinea pigs belong to Cavidae and have been domesticated for over 3,000 years in South America—they were so important that ancient cultures mummified them and included them in burials!
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