Guinea Pig Supplies

Guinea Pigs are tailless, plant eating mammals of the family Cavilidae that originated in South America. They are actually a relative of the Chinchilla & Porcupine & considered for a long time to be of the rodent family.

In 1991, the genetic classification of the Guinea Pig came into question when an article in 'Nature' magazine seemed to suggest they weren't rodents at all.

Guinea Pigs have no tail unlike rodents. They also carry their young & give birth 3 times longer than rodents at 68 days. Their young are born in an advanced state of development unlike rodents. The young can move around independently of each other soon after birth – unlike rodents. Guinea Pigs also require additional vitamin c unlike rodents.

Guinea Pigs were first domesticated by the Moche people in Peru, who used them as a food source.
They were also used for medical purposes, & as a sacrifice. The Moche began domesticating them between approximately 2500 – 5000BC. An exact date cant be given because of the lack of evidence of fossil remains. But mummified remains & statues depicting Guinea Pigs have been found in coastal Peru indicating a strong presence in the Moche culture there.

Later early Dutch & British explorers bought them to Europe, where they were raised as exotic pets. Queen Victoria I was one of the first to own a Guinea Pig in England.

Relatives of the Guinea Pig can still be found in the wild. They live in the forest edges, Savannah's & swamps from Columbia to Argentina. Small groups live in burrow, eating from the forest floor at night.

A Guinea Pig is sometimes referred to a Cavy, which is a shortened name from its Latin name; Cavia porcellus. Cavia refers to the scientific family & means 'little pig'. How it became 'Guinea Pig' is a little mystery. The pig part definitely relates to the squealing & oinking part, which is a noise Guinea Pigs make from time to time. The 'Guinea' part is maybe because it cost one guinea in England to buy them at the time, or maybe they came from Guyana, a South American country, that once was a Dutch colony & a likely export area. The name Guyana may have been miss spelled & said as 'Guinea”

One thing is for sure & that's that now the Guinea Pig is in almost every continent. They are as loved today as ever by their owners!

Have Lots of Fun with your piggy!
Sarah