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2009
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Patagonian Cavy or Patagonian Mara |
One kind of cavy is the familiar little guinea pig. However, the guinea pig is a thoroughly domesticated creature, and has been so for hundreds of years. It has relatives in many parts of South America that have not been domesticated and are still thoroughly wild. The big Patagonian cavy ,also known as the Patagonian mara or Patagonian hare, that stands more than a foot high is one of these. It looks not at all like a guinea pig – rather, like a jack rabbit, for it has quite long legs. Its home is on the barren plains of Patagonia and up into the pompous region of Argentina.
The Patagonian cavy lies in burrows and is shy and timid, dashing for its underground hiding place at the first sign of alarm, or else making a galloping hopping leaping run to get away as far as possible. However, it is full of curiosity as well as of tenacity, and so after it has run a couple of hundred feet, it is apt to sit up and look around.
The Patagonian cavy breeds very freely in captivity. One zoological garden acquired three of the animals, and a few short years later there were thirty-five of them!
Natives of the cavy country are very fond of eating them, but to many people the flesh seems rather dry and tasteless.
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