The guinea pig has nothing to do with an ordinary pig, except that it can squeal just like its large namesake.
Due to the characteristic bite and incisors, it is ranked among the large family of rodents.
Based on recent research, a number of scientists are still of the opinion that guinea pigs should be combined into a new separate subfamily. At the same time, there is no doubt that the original homeland of the animals is Central and South America, and there is evidence that the history of the existence of guinea pigs is 35-40 million years old.
The domestication of wild guinea pigs began in the ninth and third millennium BC. NS. It is likely that these animals, in search of protection and warmth, themselves came to the human dwelling. Among the Incas, guinea pigs were sacrificial animals that were sacrificed to the sun god. Animals with variegated brown or white color were especially popular.
The ancestor of our guinea pigs is the guinea pig Cavia aperea tschudi. It is found in the southern regions of Chile, located at an altitude of 4200 m above sea level, and lives in underground burrows in small groups of five to ten animals. The appearance and structure of the body is very different from our guinea pigs, which is due to the food depleted in water and rich in cellulose, but there is no difference with respect to food intake and fertility.
Wandering the endless expanses of the Internet one fine sunny September day, I could not believe my eyes when I stumbled upon a book about guinea pigs published in 1886, which was put up for auction. Then I thought: “This cannot be, for sure a mistake has crept in here, and in fact it meant 1986”. There […]
CHAPTER I. From pet to marketable product In South America, plants such as potatoes and corn and animals such as llama and kui are widely used for food. According to the Peruvian archaeologist Lumbreras, domesticated cui, along with cultivated plants and other domestic animals, have been used in the Andes since about 5000 BC. in […]
Pakarana (Dinomys branickii) – the only species allocated to this family, resembles pacu. Its body length is about 70 cm, its tail is 20 cm long. It has 4 fingers on its legs. Her fur is dark brown with white stripes on the sides. In terms of its structure, it occupies an intermediate place between pigs, packs and huts. Inhabits […]
The capybara, or capybara (Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris), belongs to the capybara family, or capybara (Hydro-choeridae), which includes only one genus with two species. It is the largest rodent in the world. Reaches a length of 1.25 m and a weight of 50 kg. The skin of a capybara, or capybara, is covered with brown bristly hair with […]
The paca (Cuniculus rasa) is a rodent belonging to the agouti family. It lives in the coastal tropical forests of South America. Adult males reach 80 cm in length and 10 kg in weight. In some places, it is also called a paw. It is a large rodent with a short tail. It has a very […]
The Dasyproctidae family includes four genera, two of which – paca and agouti – are widespread and well known. Outwardly, they resemble both large short-eared rabbits and fossil forest ancestors of the horse. They feed on fruits and nuts falling from trees, as well as leaves and roots. These are predominantly forest animals that live in tropical America. Agouti, […]
Moko (Kerodon) , nicknamed the rock pig, is also ranked among the half-hoofed family. In appearance, it resembles a guinea pig, but somewhat larger (weighs about 1 kg). It lives in the rocky and barren regions of Patagonia and Brazil. It hides in rocky crevices or digs holes under stones. Comes out to get food at night. It feeds on plants. One […]
Mara (Dolichotis patagona) is a rodent belonging to the same as the pig, the family of half-hoofed animals (Caviidae). Inhabits the pampas of Argentina and the rocky expanses of Patagonia. A large animal, unlike other rodents. In appearance it resembles a hare. The length of the head with the body is 69-75 cm, body weight is […]
The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus made it possible for the guinea pig to come into contact with the Old World. These rodents came to Europe, being brought on ships by Spanish conquerors 4 centuries ago from Peru. The guinea pig was first described scientifically in the writings of Aldrovandus and his contemporary Gesner, who […]
Our domestic guinea pig (Cavia arerea porcellus) comes from South America from a wild pig. The genus Cavia unites several very similar species – small rodents, known as guinea or guinea pigs, and in their homeland, as aperea, aporea, gui. Of course, they have nothing to do with the sea and pigs. It also includes Cavia arerea from […]
