[2]:  30 The rock cavy is called mocó in Brazilian Portuguese, and koriko pexerumen in the Xukuru language of Pernambuco, Brazil.

[3] The rock cavy is a fairly large rodent weighing up to 1 kg (2.2 lb).

[4] In appearance and habit, they closely resemble the unrelated African rock hyraxes (an example of convergent evolution).

[4] Rock cavies are found in dry, rocky areas with low, scrubby vegetation, and they prefer to reside close to stony mountainsides and hills.

[1][2] Rock cavies belong to the order Rodentia, suborder Hystricomorpha, based on their porcupine-like jaw muscles.

[4][8] Studies show that rock cavies have a direct link between their retina and the mediodorsal nucleus in the thalamus, which may provide them with strong visual recognition, emotional learning, and/or enhanced object-reward associative memory.

[further explanation needed] Females weigh 700-800 g and give birth to only one or two young, but several litters per year are common.

[citation needed] Efforts are underway to breed rock cavies in captivity as a potential food source.