"are eaten directly from the anus, unless the guinea pig is pregnant or obese. They share this behaviour with rabbits. In geriatric boars or sows (rarely in young ones), the muscles which allow the softer pellets to be expelled from the anus can become weak. This creates a condition known as ""anal impaction"", which prevents the animal from redigesting cecotropes even though harder pellets may pass through the impacted mass. The condition may be temporarily alleviated by a human carefully removing the impacted feces from the anus. Guinea pigs benefit from a diet of fresh grass hay, such as timothy"
"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 for human medical conditions such as juvenile diabetes, tuberculosis, scurvy (like humans, they must get vitamin C), and pregnancy complications. The scientific name of the common species is ""Cavia porcellus"", with """" being Latin for ""little pig"". ""Cavia"" is New Latin; it is derived from ""cabiai"", the animal's name in the language of the"
"Guinea pig The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (""Cavia porcellus""), also known as cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus ""Cavia"". Despite their common name, these animals are not in the pig family Suidae, nor do they come from Guinea in Africa, and the origin of their name is still unclear; they originated in the Andes of South America and studies based on biochemistry and hybridization suggest they are domesticated descendants of a closely related species of cavy such as ""C. tschudii"", and therefore do not exist naturally in"
"identified by the Institute Armand Frappier in 1978, and Charles River Laboratories has reproduced this breed for research since 1982. Cavy fanciers then began acquiring hairless breeds, and the pet hairless varieties are referred to as ""skinny pigs"". Guinea pig The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (""Cavia porcellus""), also known as cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus ""Cavia"". Despite their common name, these animals are not in the pig family Suidae, nor do they come from Guinea in Africa, and the origin of their name is still unclear;"
"believed to have been introduced there by Spanish travelers. However, based on more recent excavations on West Indian islands, the animal must have been introduced by ceramic-making horticulturalists from South America to the Caribbean around 500 BC, and it was present in the Ostionoid period, for example, on Puerto Rico, long before the advent of the Spaniards. The guinea pig was first described in the West in 1554 by the Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner. Its binomial scientific name was first used by Erxleben in 1777; it is an amalgam of Pallas' generic designation (1766) and Linnaeus' specific conferral (1758). The"
"the name is a corruption of ""Guiana"", an area in South America. A common misconception is that they were so named because they were sold for the price of a guinea coin; this hypothesis is untenable, because the guinea was first struck in England in 1663, and William Harvey used the term ""Ginny-pig"" as early as 1653. Others believe ""guinea"" may be an alteration of the word coney (rabbit); guinea pigs were referred to as ""pig coneys"" in Edward Topsell's 1607 treatise on quadrupeds. The guinea pig was first domesticated as early as 5000 BC for food by tribes in"
"Greater guinea pig The greater guinea pig, ""Cavia magna"", is a species of rodent found in the coastal strip of Brazil and Uruguay, where it lives in moist grassland and marshes. A large rodent, the greater guinea pig grows to a total length of and weight of for males and a total length of and weight of for females. The dorsal fur is dark agouti brown and the underparts are reddish brown. It is semiaquatic and has membranes joining the toes. Its karyotype has 2n = 64 and FN = 128. This species is native to the coastal strip of"
"differently pigmented version of ""Cavia porcellus"", and the second, a wild Peruvian guinea pig that was clearly different from the animal Bennett described. In 1867, Leopold Fitzinger renamed the latter guinea pig ""Cavia tschudii"". The montane guinea pig is a medium-sized species, growing to a total length of . The colour varies in different parts of the range; in Peru, the dorsal fur is dark reddish-brown mixed with black, and the underparts are dark buffy-grey; in Chile, the dorsal surface is pale agouti brown with paler underparts; in Bolivia, the upper parts are agouti olive and the underparts creamy-white or"
"called ""Spaanse rat""); and in Portuguese, the guinea pig is variously referred to as ""cobaia"", from the Tupi word via its Latinization, or as ""porquinho da Índia"" (little Indian pig). This is not universal; for example, the common word in Spanish is ""conejillo de Indias"" (little rabbit of the Indies). The Chinese refer to them as 豚鼠 (""túnshǔ"", 'pig mouse'), and sometimes as Netherlands pig (荷蘭豬, ""hélánzhū"") or Indian mouse (天竺鼠, ""tiānzhúshǔ""). The Japanese word for guinea pig is ""モルモット"" (""morumotto""), which derives from the name of another mountain-dwelling rodent, the marmot; this is what guinea pigs were called by"
"Galibi tribes once native to French Guiana. ""Cabiai"" may be an adaptation of the Portuguese ""çavia"" (now ""savia""), which is itself derived from the Tupi word ""saujá"", meaning rat. Guinea pigs are called ""quwi"" or ""jaca"" in Quechua and ""cuy"" or ""cuyo"" (plural ""cuyes, cuyos"") in the Spanish of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Ironically, breeders tend to use the more formal ""cavy"" to describe the animal, while in scientific and laboratory contexts, it is far more commonly referred to by the more colloquial ""guinea pig"". How the animals came to be called ""pigs"" is not clear. They are built somewhat"
"Guinea hog The Guinea hog, also called the pineywoods Guinea, Guinea forest hog, acorn eater, and yard pig, is a breed of domestic pig originating in the United States. Despite its name, the breed is not from the country of Guinea, though the foundation stock is thought to be derived from West Africa. The Guinea hog is a rare breed with a black coat, sturdy body, curly tail and upright ears. Guinea hogs are small pigs compared to modern breeds; they weigh less than 200 pounds and will yield 50 to 100 pounds of meat and fat. They are good"
"Montane guinea pig The montane guinea pig, ""Cavia tschudii"", a type of rodent, is a guinea pig species from the Andes in South America. The montane guinea pig is the likely ancestor of ""Cavia porcellus"", the cavy or domestic guinea pig. Peruvian wild guinea pigs were first described by E. T. Bennett in 1835, who termed them ""Cavia cutleri"". Johann Jakob von Tschudi, in an 1845 publication, used the term ""Cavia cutleri"" to refer to what are now considered two separate entities - the first, Bennett's ""Cavia cutleri"", which was later (by Oldfield Thomas in 1917) identified as probably a"
"a reddish pig to the normally bluish-black American Guinea parents. It is suspected that there were a number of distinct American Guineas in the past. In 2005 the American Guinea Hog Association was formed which works to ensure its continued existence. The Guinea hog is also included in Slow Food USA's ""Ark of Taste"", a catalog of heritage foods in danger of extinction. The Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo for a number of years homes several guinea hogs. Guinea Hogs are one of many smaller breeds that are known to be kept as pets. Guinea hog The Guinea hog, also called"
"the Dutch traders who first brought them to Nagasaki in 1843. The other Japanese word for guinea pig, using kanji, is ""tenjiku-nezumi"" (天竺鼠, or てんじくねずみ), which literally translates as ""India rat"". The origin of ""guinea"" in ""guinea pig"" is harder to explain. One proposed explanation is that the animals were brought to Europe by way of Guinea, leading people to think they had originated there. ""Guinea"" was also frequently used in English to refer generally to any far-off, unknown country, so the name may simply be a colorful reference to the animal's exotic appeal. Another hypothesis suggests the ""guinea"" in"
"land in eastern Uruguay and southeastern Brazil. Its typical habitat is moist grassland, marshes, the edges of woodland and little valleys. The greater guinea pig is a herbivore. It is a solitary animal and has a complex network of tunnels and runways through the vegetation. The home range is variable and seems to be related to the animal's size, its sex, and the water level in the area. Females seem capable of breeding at any time of year but births predominate in spring and the early part of summer. Females may have three litters in the year. The gestation period"
"curiosity when allowed to walk freely, especially in familiar and safe terrain. Guinea pigs that become familiar with their owner will whistle on the owner's approach; they will also learn to whistle in response to the rustling of plastic bags or the opening of refrigerator doors, where their food is most commonly stored. In Switzerland, owning a single guinea pig is considered harmful to its well-being and forbidden by law. Domesticated guinea pigs occur in many breeds, which have been developed since their introduction to Europe and North America. These varieties vary in hair and color composition. The most common"
"Peter Gurney Peter Gurney (9 March 1938 – 2 July 2006) was an author and campaigner for the rights and welfare of guinea pigs. He was associated with the Cambridge Cavy Trust, founded by Vedra Stanley-Spatcher. Starting in 1990, Gurney was a regular hospital visitor to Great Ormond Street Hospital with five of his guinea pigs. The children called him ""The Guinea Pig Man"". Born in Luton, Gurney attended Beech Hill Secondary Modern School. He was enlisted in the Royal Navy for his National Service, and drove buses and lorries for a living upon his discharge. At the age of"
"role usually played by growth hormone. Additionally, guinea pigs have been identified as model organisms for the study of juvenile diabetes and, because of the frequency of pregnancy toxemia, of pre-eclampsia in human females. Their placental structure is similar to that of humans, and their gestation period can be divided into trimesters that resemble the stages of fetal development in humans. Guinea pig strains used in scientific research are primarily outbred strains. Aside from the common American or English stock, the two main outbred strains in laboratory use are the Hartley and Dunkin-Hartley; these English strains are albino, although pigmented"
"Abyssinian guinea pig The Abyssinian is a breed of guinea pig that is relatively common as both a pet and show animal. The Abyssinian is set apart from other breeds of guinea pig by its coat, which is marked with radially growing swirls or cowlicks of hair referred to as rosettes. The Abyssinian is one of the oldest guinea pig breeds. Despite its name, it did not originate in Abyssinia, which is now Ethiopia. The actual origins of its name are not known, although it is known to have originated in South America. The Abyssinian drew much attention as an"
"and into Russian as ""морская свинка"". This derives from the Middle High German name ""merswin"". This originally meant ""dolphin"" and was used because of the animals' grunting sounds (which were thought to be similar). Many other, possibly less scientifically based explanations of the German name exist. For example, sailing ships stopping to reprovision in the New World would pick up stores of guinea pigs, which provided an easily transportable source of fresh meat. The French term is ""cochon d'Inde"" (Indian pig) or ""cobaye""; the Dutch call it ""Guinees biggetje"" (Guinean piglet) or cavia (while in some Dutch dialects it is"
"Brazilian guinea pig The Brazilian guinea pig (""Cavia aperea"") (preá in Portuguese) is a guinea pig species found in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. ""Cavia aperea"" has been successfully mated to the domestic guinea pig, ""Cavia porcellus"", though many females become infertile in successive generations. Brazilian guinea pigs are mainly diurnal animals and are narrower and longer than domesticated guinea pigs. This is a medium-sized guinea pig with an adult length of about and a weight of . The tail, at around 2.4 mm, is almost non-existent. The dorsal fur is dark olive-brown mixed with"
"7, and Huckinghaus(1961) recognized only 3. Recent scientific compilations have generally followed either Cabrera or Huckinghaus. At least five wild species of guinea pig are recognised, in addition to the domestic form: Some authors also recognise the following additional species: In addition, four fossil species have been identified: Cavia Cavia is a genus in the subfamily Caviinae that contains the rodents commonly known as guinea pigs or cavies. The best-known species in this genus is the domestic guinea pig, ""Cavia porcellus"", an important meat animal in South America and a common household pet outside South America. ""Cavia"" is classified in"
"varieties found in pet stores are the English shorthair (also known as the American), which have a short, smooth coat, and the Abyssinian, whose coat is ruffled with cowlicks, or rosettes. Also popular among breeders are the Peruvian and the Sheltie (or Silkie), both straight longhair breeds, and the Texel, a curly longhair. Grooming of guinea pigs is primarily accomplished using combs or brushes. Shorthair breeds are typically brushed weekly, while longhair breeds may require daily grooming. Cavy clubs and associations dedicated to the showing and breeding of guinea pigs have been established worldwide. The American Cavy Breeders Association, an"
"Guinea Pig Club The Guinea Pig Club, established in 1941, was a social club and mutual support network for British and allied aircrew injured during World War II. Its membership was made up of patients of Archibald McIndoe at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, Sussex, who had undergone experimental reconstructive plastic surgery, including facial reconstruction, generally after receiving burns injuries in aircraft. The club remained active after the end of the war, and its annual reunion meetings continued until 2007. The name ""Guinea Pig"" – the rodent species commonly used as a laboratory test subject – was chosen to reflect"
"Baldwin guinea pig The Baldwin guinea pig is a breed developed from a spontaneous genetic mutation in Carol Miller's show-line of white crested golden agouti. Though born fully furred, Baldwin guinea pigs begin to lose their fur at two to five days of age, starting at the nose and leaving them almost entirely hairless by about two months of age. They retain whiskers and sometimes a few hairs on their feet. Baldwins are known for having skin of a rubbery texture, lots of wrinkles and large, droopy ears. They come in all colors and patterns that haired guinea pigs come"
"is about 64 days and the litter size is very small (1 or 2 pups). The young are quite large when born and grow fast, and some females born in the spring, themselves breed successfully when between 30 and 45 days old. This small mammal is unusual in that it produces a small number of precocial offspring with a high survival rate when it might have been expected to produce large litters of altricial young. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the conservation status of the greater guinea pig as being of ""least concern"". It has a"
"Skinny pig The Skinny Pig is an almost hairless breed of Guinea pig. Skinny pigs typically have hair on their muzzles, feet, and legs, but are hairless over the remainder of their bodies. Some of them have a thin covering of fuzzy hair on their backs as well. A healthy Skinny has skin that is mostly smooth with some wrinkling around the legs and neck, the body is full with no appearance of spine or ribs. Skinnies can come in a variety of colours and patterns, such as Dutch, Tortoiseshell, Himalayan and many others. ""Skinny"" is the term used for"
"the common pet breeds weigh between when full grown and measure between in length. Some livestock breeds weigh when full grown. Pet breeds live an average of four to five years, but may live as long as eight. According to the 2006 ""Guinness World Records"", the longest living guinea pig survived 14 years, 10.5 months. Most guinea pigs have fur, but one laboratory breed adopted by some pet owners, the skinny pig, is a mostly furless breed. Some breeds are longfur breeds such as the Peruvian, the Silkie, and the Texel. In the 1990s, a minority scientific opinion emerged proposing"
"if not bred is greatly overstated. The reason for potential calcification is a metabolic disease, like ochronosis. A healthy, normal female guinea pig's pubic symphysis does not calcify. Male and female guinea pigs do not differ in appearance apart from general size, with the male being about 30% larger. The position of the anus is very close to the genitals in both sexes. Female genitals are distinguished by a Y-shaped configuration formed from a vulvar flap. While male genitals may look similar, with the penis and anus forming a similar shape, the penis will protrude if pressure is applied to"
"in the rise of caging guinea pigs and rabbits together. In the ""South Park"" season 12 episode """", giant guinea pigs dressed in costumes rampage over the Earth. The 2009 Walt Disney Pictures movie ""G-Force"" features a group of highly intelligent guinea pigs trained as operatives of the U.S. government. A video game based on the movie was also released. A guinea pig named Bugsy appears in the 2008 film ""Bedtime Stories"". A guinea pig named Cashew features prominently in the second season of the U.S. adaptation of ""House of Cards"". Guinea pigs (called ""cuy"", ""cuye"", or ""curí"") were originally"
"call. The common English name dates from the 17th century and comes from Lombard language ""gargenei"", the plural of ""garganell"", which ultimately comes from the Late Latin ""gargala"" ""tracheal artery"". The English usage owes its origins to Conrad Gesner who used the Italian name in the third volume of his ""Historiae Animalium"" (History of Animals) of 1555. The adult male is unmistakable, with its brown head and breast with a broad white crescent over the eye. The rest of the plumage is grey, with loose grey scapular feathers It has a grey bill and legs. In flight it shows a"
"Domestic pig The domestic pig (""Sus scrofa domesticus"" or only ""Sus domesticus""), often called swine, hog, or simply pig when there is no need to distinguish it from other pigs, is a domesticated large, even-toed ungulate. It is variously considered a subspecies of the wild boar or a distinct species. The domestic pig's head-plus-body-length ranges from , and adult pigs typically weigh between , with well-fed individuals often exceeding this weight range. The size and weight of a hog largely depends on its breed. Compared to other artiodactyls, its head is relatively long, pointed, and free of warts. Even-toed ungulates"
"Guinea singing dog. Zoological nomenclature is a system of naming animals. In 1758, the Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus published in his ""Systema Naturae"" the binomial nomenclature - or the two-word naming - of species. ""Canis"" is the Latin word meaning ""dog"", and under this genus he listed the dog-like carnivores including domestic dogs, wolves, and jackals. He classified the domestic dog as ""Canis familiaris"", and on the next page he classified the wolf as ""Canis lupus"". The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) advises on the ""correct use of the scientific names of animals"". A name entered onto"