Guinea pigs: the basics every owner should know

Guinea pig (scientific name: Cavia porcellus), also known as guinea pig, guinea pig, guinea pig, is classified in zoology as Mammalia, Rodentia, Cavia family and genus Cavia. Despite its English name "guinea pig," the animal is neither a pig nor does it come from Guinea or the Netherlands. Its ancestors came from the Andes Mountains of South America. According to biochemical and hybridization analyses, guinea pigs are the domesticated descendants of closely related species such as guinea pigs (C. aperea), colorful guinea pigs (C. fulgida) or prairie guinea pigs (C. tschudii). Therefore, this animal no longer exists in nature. Guinea pigs hold an important place in the cultures of South American indigenous peoples, not only as a source of food but also as a source of medicine and sacrifices in religious rituals. Since the 1960s, demand for guinea pigs has increased outside of South America. Guinea pigs were brought to the West by European traders in the 16th century. At that time, people loved this small animal and kept it as a pet. They have a docile temperament, are cute and easy to care for, and are still common household pets today. Some organizations around the world are scrambling to breed guinea pigs, and people have developed a variety of varieties with different coat colors and shapes. In the first half of the 20th century, guinea pig became a popular synonym for people involved in scientific experiments in English. Biological experiments on guinea pigs began in the 17th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries, this animal was generally used as a model organism, and was later generally replaced by other mammals such as mice. Today, guinea pigs are still used in scientific research, focusing on common human diseases such as spinal cord injury, juvenile diabetes, tuberculosis, scurvy and pregnancy complications.