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A Sheltie guinea pig with lilac and white coloring. Guinea Pigs, also known as cavies (Cavia porcellus), have been domesticated since around (or cicra) 5000 BCE, leading to the development of a diverse array of breeds. These breeds exhibit a wide range of physical characteristics and serve various purposes.
Cavia is a genus in the subfamily Caviinae that contains the rodents commonly known as the true guinea pigs or cavies. [1] The best-known species in this genus is the domestic guinea pig, Cavia porcellus , a meat animal in South America and a common household pet outside that continent.
The Baldwin guinea pig is a breed developed from a spontaneous genetic mutation in Carol Miller's show-line of white crested golden agouti. [1] [2] 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. [3]
The male guinea pigs usually have higher masses. The lifespan of these cavies is not well known due to limited data and lack of research; however Moleques do Sul guinea pigs had an average monthly survival rate of (0.81) which is high for a species within a small geographic location. [2]
Guinea pigs played a major role in the establishment of germ theory in the late 19th century, through the experiments of Louis Pasteur, Émile Roux, and Robert Koch. [166] Guinea pigs have been launched into orbital space flight several times, first by the USSR on the Sputnik 9 biosatellite of March 9, 1961 – with a successful recovery. [167]
Caviidae, the cavy family, is composed of rodents native to South America and includes the domestic guinea pig, wild cavies, and the largest living rodent, the capybara.They are found across South America in open areas from moist savanna to thorn forests or scrub desert.
A male 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.
Skinny guinea pigs should be housed indoors, and they are usually kept with nesting materials such as a blanket or cloth bag for heat conservation. [4] The breeding protocol for Skinny guinea pigs requires outcrossing to haired carriers at least every other generation. [4] This is an important step in the breeding process, which makes them a ...