Kerodon acrobata, Moojen, Locks & Langguth, 1997

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Caviidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 406-438 : 437

18.

Acrobatic Cavy

Kerodon acrobata

French: Cobaye acrobate / German: Grol3es Felsenmeerschweinchen / Spanish: Moco acrobata

Other common names: Acrobatic Moco, Climbing Cavy

Taxonomy. Kerodon acrobata Moojen, Locks & Langguth, 1997 , “Fazenda Santa Hele-

na, at Rio Sao Mateus, about 72 km from

Sao Domingos and 60 km from Posse (by

road), 13° 50’ S, 46° 50’ W, Goias, Brazil.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. C Brazil, in NE Goias and

adjacent Tocantins states (W of the Serra

Geral de Goias).

Descriptive notes. Head-body averages

384 mm, ear 33-5 mm, hindfoot 72 mm;

weight 1 kg. Greatest length of skull is 87-6 mm. The Acrobatic Cavy is larger than the Rock Cavy ( K. rupestris ), but their external morphologies are similar. Pelage of the Acrobatic Cavy is dark gray to light brown dorsally, with long, dark guard hairs. Venteris buffy gray. Rump and hindlimbs are lightly ferruginous—much less so than the Rock Cavy— with feet tinged orange-brown dorsally, much more so on the hindfeet. Tail is vestigial.

Habitat. Seasonally dry tropical forest in cerrado regions of Brazil. The Acrobatic Cavy occurs in rocky limestone outcrops, emerging to climb and forage on trees.

Food and Feeding. The Acrobatic Cavy forages on leaves, flowers, buds, and bark.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Acrobatic Cavy appears to be much like the Rock Cavy, which is largely crepuscular.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Nevertheless, Bezerra and colleagues in 2010 recommended a classification of Near Threatened, based on distribution less than 20,000 km? and occurrence in less than ten localities.

Bibliography. Bezerra et al. (2010), Dunnum (2015), Moojen et al. (1997), de Oliveira & Bonvicino (2006), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).