The Muenster yellow-toothed cavy (''Galea monasteriensis'') is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are roden ...

in the family

Caviidae Caviidae, the cavy family, is composed of rodents native to South America and includes the domestic guinea pig, wild cavies, and the largest living rodent, the capybara. They are found across South America in open areas from moist savanna to t ...

. It is known only from one location in Valle Hermoso in the

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

n Andes, at an elevation of 2557 m. Specimens from this location were shipped to

Muenster Muenster may refer to: * Münster, Germany * Muenster, Saskatchewan * Muenster, Texas * Muenster cheese Muenster ( or ) or munster is a semi-soft cheese from the United States. It is thought to be an imitation of the Alsatian washed-rind Munst ...

, Germany in 1997 for laboratory research, where the species was recognized and described. ''Galea monasteriensis'' was recognized on the basis of morphological, behavioral, and reproductive differences from related species. However, its habits in the wild have not been studied. Since 2016, the IUCN has regarded this population as a subspecies of the

common yellow-toothed cavy The common yellow-toothed cavy (''Galea musteloides'') is a species of rodent in the family Caviidae, closely related to the domesticated guinea pig. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Its karyotype A karyotype is the general ...

, i.e. as ''Galea musteloides'' ssp. ''monasteriensis''. Unlike the :common yellow-toothed cavy and :Spix's yellow-toothed cavy, Muenster yellow-toothed cavy males engage in social play with their offspring and groom them rather than being aggressive. When mothers of this species and their pups are put into a strange environment, the presence of the mothers mitigates increases in blood cortisol levels in their pups; however, this is not observed when the pups are moved together with other mothers that are not their own. ''G. monasteriensis'' is both sexually and socially monogamous. Both males and females of ''G. monasteriensis'' defend their territories and care for their pups.

References

Cavies Mammals of Bolivia Mammals of the Andes Mammals described in 2004 Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN {{rodent-stub