Cavidae

Cavidae is a proposed taxonomic family within the order Rodentia. This classification is not universally accepted within the scientific community and is sometimes considered a synonym of the family Caviidae, which encompasses guinea pigs and their close relatives. If recognized as distinct, Cavidae would differ from Caviidae in various morphological and genetic characteristics, though detailed descriptions of these differences are often debated.

The proposed family Cavidae would primarily include species commonly referred to as cavies. These are small to medium-sized rodents native to South America. Members of this group are generally characterized by their robust bodies, short limbs, and lack of a visible tail. Their diet consists mainly of vegetation.

The exact taxonomic placement and whether Cavidae should be a separate family or subsumed under Caviidae remains an area of ongoing research and discussion among zoologists. Different phylogenetic studies may offer varying interpretations of the evolutionary relationships among these rodent groups. Therefore, the term Cavidae is often encountered with a degree of uncertainty regarding its formal status.