The pelage is paler than that of Cavia and does not molt so readily, and it is not as long or coarse as that of Microcavia. The body form is more compact and stocky than that of Cavia. The incisor teeth are yellowish or light orange, rather than white as in Cavia and Microcavia. There is a prominent submandibular gland in Galea but not in the other two genera. The hind foot has three toes, the forefoot has four, and all digits have strong, sharp claws.
Females have one pair of inguinal and one pair of lateral thoracic mammae.
Yellow-toothed cavies inhabit grasslands at high or low elevations, as well as rocky and brushy areas. They are primarily terrestrial and diurnal. The diet consists of grasses, forbs, and other kinds of vegetation. One female had a home range of 4,275 sq meters. Animals lived in groups, but only a single adult male could be kept in an enclosure.