THE GUINEA PIG 1 



By Orson N. Eaton 



Animal husbandman, Bureau of Ayiimal Industry, Agricultural Research 



Administration 2 



The guinea pig is a rodent belonging to the family Caviidae, hence 

 the less common term "cavy." These animals are native to several 

 countries scattered from Central America throughout South America. 

 The species from which the domestic cavy (Cavia porcellus) is derived 

 is found in the Andes Mountains in Peru; 



The guinea pig had been domesticated by the Indians of Peru long 

 before the Spanish conquerors arrived. Mummified guinea pigs 

 found in graves at Ancon, Peru, indicate that this animal was domesti- 

 cated at a very early period. Whether Indians outside of Peru 

 domesticated the guinea pig is not definitely known. The natives 

 used the guinea pig for food and in religious ceremonies. 



Guinea pigs have a rather short stocky body, short incisor teeth, 

 very complex molar teeth, uncleft upper lip, legs nearly equal in 

 length, and no tail. There are four toes on the front feet, three on the 

 rear. The guinea pigs kept by the natives of Peru show most of the 

 color variations that are seen in the laboratory guinea pigs, namely, 

 solid colors, including golden agouti, black, chocolate, red, and tan; 

 mixed colors, such as agouti or black with red or tan ; and these colors 

 with white spotting. A few other colors have been developed by 

 breeders who supply animals for the laboratories. 



Fanciers recognize several types or varieties, based mainly on hair 

 characteristics. There are the English or smooth short-haired type 

 (fig. 1) ; the Abyssinian, with short hair arranged in several rosettes 



MmmMmm 



Figure 1. — Short-haired smooth guinea pi| 



1 Supersedes Farmers' Bulletin 525, Raising Guinea Pigs. 



2 Acknowledgment is made to E. R. Quortrup, formerly veterinarian in charge, 

 Fur Animal Disease Research Laboratory. Pullman, Wash., for assistance in the 

 preparation of the section on diseases. 



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