Guinea Pig

Overview

Guinea pigs (cavies) have never been found in the wild - they are a fully domesticated species descended from South American wild cavies, selectively bred by Andean peoples for over 3,000 years as a food source and in religious ceremonies. Today they are one of the world's most popular small pet animals, valued for their vocal, social nature and gentle temperament. They use over 11 distinct vocalizations to communicate.

Quick Facts

History

Guinea pigs crossed the Atlantic soon after the first European contact with South America, and the oldest known European remains are sixteenth century: a skeleton from Mons in Belgium dated between 1550 and 1640, and bones from Hill Hall Manor in Essex dated to 1574 or 1575. Genetic work points to Peru as the likely source of the animals shipped out. They arrived in Europe as luxuries, kept first by the upper classes and only later reaching everyone else. By the eighteenth century medical researchers had begun using them as laboratory subjects.

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