biogeographical (case-related) questions

[Thomas Schlemmermeyer]

Dear all,

 I have the following questions:

1.)
There is a famous animal called "Meerschweinchen"in German, and "porquinho da
India"in Brazilian Portugues, and, if I recall it correctly Cavia porcella or
something like that in Scientific.

Also, If I understood correctly the plate in the Zoological garden, its natural
distribution is on the eastern part (pacific) of South America.

Is this correct, and, if so, what about its spatial homological or other
relations?

2.) I would like to know more about the biogeography of the following plant
families:
from these families the most representative were:
Orchidaceae, Melastomataceae, Compositae, Solanaceae, Leguminosae
e Myrtaceae


        Greetings     Thomas