The montane guinea pig (Cavia tschudii) a type of rodent, is a guinea pig species from the Andes in South America. The montane guinea pig is the likely ancestor of Cavia porcellus, the domestic cavy or domestic guinea pig!<br><br> The montane guinea pig is a medium-sized species, growing to a total length of 9.7 in. The colour varies in different parts of the range; in Peru, the dorsal fur is dark reddish-brown mixed with black, and the underparts are dark buffy-grey; in Chile, the dorsal surface is pale agouti brown with paler underparts; in Bolivia, the upper parts are agouti olive and the underparts creamy-white or white.<br><br> Ancestral caviomorphs probably descended from paramyid rodents found in North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. Members of Caviidae first appeared during the Late Miocene period, 26 to seven million years ago, and the family diversified in that period as well (Alderton 1999; Wagner 1976). #wheekwheek