This article is about the small species of Rodent. For the domestic pig breed, see Guinea hog. For various guinea pig species, see Cavia. For other uses, see Guinea pig (disambiguation).
Domestic guinea pig
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Rodentia
Family:
Caviidae
Genus:
Cavia
Species:
C. porcellus
Binomial name
Cavia porcellus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Mus porcellus Linnaeus, 1758
Cavia cobaya Pallas, 1766
Cavia anolaimae J. A. Allen, 1916
Cavia cutleri Bennett, 1836
Cavia leucopyga Cabanis, 1848
Cavia longipilis Fitzinger, 1879
Guinea pig defense sound
The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy (/ˈkeɪvi/KAY-vee), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus Cavia in the family Caviidae. Breeders tend to use the name "cavy" for the animal, but "guinea pig" is more commonly used in scientific and laboratory contexts.[1] Despite their name, guinea pigs are not native to Guinea, nor are they closely related to pigs. They originated in the Andes region of South America. Studies based on biochemistry and hybridization suggest they are domesticated animals that do not exist naturally in the wild, descendants of a closely related cavy species such as C. tschudii.[2][3] They were originally domesticated as livestock for a source of meat, and are still consumed in some parts of the world.
In Western society, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a pet since its introduction to Europe and North America by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature, friendly responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them have continued to make guinea pigs a popular choice of household pet. Organizations devoted to the competitive breeding of guinea pigs have been formed worldwide. Many specialized breeds, with varying coat colors and textures, are selected by breeders.
Livestock breeds of the guinea pig play an important role in folk culture for many indigenous Andean peoples, especially as a food source.[4] The animals are also used in folk medicine and in community religious ceremonies.[5] They are raised for their meat and are a culinary staple in the Andes Mountains, where they are known as cuy. In the 1960s a modern breeding program was started in Peru that resulted in large breeds known as cuy mejorados (improved cuy). Marketers tried to increase consumption of the animal outside South America.[6]
Biological experimentation on domestic guinea pigs has been carried out since the 17th century. The animals were used so frequently as model organisms in the 19th and 20th centuries that the epithet guinea pig came into use to describe a human test subject. Since that time, they have been largely replaced by other rodents, such as mice and rats. However, they are still used in research, primarily as models to study such human medical conditions as juvenile diabetes, tuberculosis, scurvy (like humans, they require dietary intake of vitamin C), and pregnancy complications.
^Wagner & Manning 1976, p. 2.
^Cite error: The named reference weir was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-5789-8.
^Leonard, Jonathan Norton (1970). Recipes, Latin American cooking. Time-Life International (Nederlands). p. 21. ISBN 9780809400638.
^Morales 1995.
^Vecchio, Rick (2004-10-19). "Peru Pushes Guinea Pigs as Food". CBS News. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
The montane guineapig (Cavia tschudii) is a species of caviid rodent found in the Andes in South America. The montane guineapig is the likely main ancestor...
"Guineapigs, also known as cavies, have been domesticated since around 5000 BCE, leading to the development of a diverse array of breeds. These breeds...
The Brazilian guineapig (Cavia aperea) (preá in Portuguese) is a guineapig species found in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay...
a breed of guineapig that is relatively common as both a pet and show animal. The Abyssinian is set apart from other breeds of guineapig by its coat...
of membership are arduous in the extreme. Archibald McIndoe, 1947 The GuineaPig Club, established in 1941, was a social club and mutual support network...
The Baldwin guineapig is a breed developed from a spontaneous genetic mutation in Carol Miller's show-line of white crested golden agouti. Though born...
The Skinny pig or skinny is an almost hairless strain of guineapig. Skinny pigs typically have hair on their muzzles, feet, and legs, but are hairless...
The GuineaPig may refer to: The GuineaPig (play), of 1929 by Preston Sturges The GuineaPig (Chetham-Strode), a 1946 play by Warren Chetham-Strode The...
The shiny guineapig (Cavia fulgida) is a guineapig species of southeastern South America. The rodent is endemic to Brazil. It is native to the Atlantic...
The greater guineapig (Cavia magna) is a species of rodent found in the coastal strip of Brazil and Uruguay, where it lives in moist grassland and marshes...
effects. The first two films in the Japanese GuineaPig series, GuineaPig: Devil's Experiment and GuineaPig 2: Flower of Flesh and Blood (both released...
The Guineapig maximisation test (GPMT) is an in vivo test to screen for substances that cause human skin sensitisation (i.e. allergens). It was first...
gerbils), common degus, fancy mice, fancy rats, common chinchillas, and guineapigs (cavies). The domestication of small mammals is a relatively recent development...
lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius). Its close relatives include guineapigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the...
as the Sacha guineapig, is a species of Cavia native to Ecuador. Little is known about its population. "Cavia patzelti (Sacha GuineaPig)". iucnredlist...
is a guineapig species from South America. It is found in Colombia near Bogotá. It is believed to be a feral offshoot of the domestic guineapig, Cavia...
composed of rodents native to South America and includes the domestic guineapig, wild cavies, and the largest living rodent, the capybara. They are found...
rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, beavers, guineapigs, and hamsters. Rabbits, hares, and pikas, who also have incisors that...
Cavia guianae is a guineapig species from South America. It is found in southern Venezuela, Guyana, and portions of northern Brazil. Some biologists believe...
contains the rodents commonly known as guineapigs or cavies. The best-known species in this genus is the domestic guineapig, Cavia porcellus, a meat animal...
Brindle is a coat coloring pattern in animals, particularly dogs, cattle, guineapigs, cats, and, rarely, horses. It is sometimes described as "tiger-striped"...
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