Animals at a French Zoo - Spotted Cavy - Two Cavies asleep in cape.. Part of Box 209 Boswell collection - Old and New French Zoo. The cavy family (Caviidae) is a family of rodents native to South America, including the domestic guinea pig, wild cavies, and the capybara, among other animals. They are found across the continent, in open areas from moist savanna to thorn forests or scrub desert. This rodent family has fewer members than most other rodent families, with 18 species in six genera.