Guinea Pig Facts
Five Astounding Guinea Pig Facts
When you first get a guinea pig as a household pet, you are given many guinea pig facts designed to help in caring for the animal. Here are a number of interesting facts, which have nothing much to do with their care and handling. Some you may find informational, or at least interesting.
Fact Number 1 - The Guinea pig is not a little pig, nor is it in any way related to the pig. Apparently there were those who thought it might be, as the scientific name for the animal is Cavia porcellus. Porcellus is the Latin word for little pig. Even though the more formal name for the little animal is the Cava, scientists still insist on calling it a Guinea pig. They didn't even get the first part right as Guinea, is in Africa and the Guinea pig is native to several parts of South America including French Guiana. The French call it the Indian pig, and the Germans have given it the name Little Sea Pig, Meerschweinchen. The Guinea pig does have some of the characteristics of the pig, in that it is a sturdy animal, compactly built, gets along well in small quarters, and eats constantly.
Fact Number 2 - The Guinea pig is good eating. This is one of the Guinea pig facts apt to horrify the many adults and youngsters who have one or more of these furry little animals as a pet. The fact is, the Guinea pig has been a staple in parts of western South America for hundreds of years, many hundreds of years in fact. In Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador they are considered to be livestock, and raised as such. It should be added that the Guinea pigs we have as pets are far removed from a breeding standpoint from the original wild Guinea pig, and those being raised for food are yet another group, bred to be significantly larger than the animals we have as pets. In these parts of South America, the Guinea pig has played an important role in religious ceremonies and festivals for centuries. For their role in these festivities, the Guinea pig may be served fried, roasted, broiled, or in a casserole.
Fact Number 3 - Guinea pigs will stampede on occasion. A Guinea pig stampede may present no danger to us, but would certainly be interesting to watch. A Guinea pig that is startled or senses danger will at times simply freeze and do nothing. At other times it will dart off in a zigzag, or seemingly haphazard pattern. A group of Guinea pigs if frightened, may stampede, but running off in all different directions, possibly meant to confuse a predator, rather than in one direction, as cattle would tend to do.
Fact Number 4 - A high-walled cage is not needed. One of the more helpful Guinea pig facts is that while the animal can jump, though not very high, it has never mastered the art of climbing, and in fact seems to have no interest in doing so. We baby sat two Guinea pigs one summer. They belonged to the science class at the grade school our children attended. Their “cage” was a 5' by 5' box, with a wall that was not quite a foot high. At first we thought we'd have to go on a Guinea pig hunt every morning, but every morning they were still in their box. During the course of the summer, one of them somehow escaped. We found him in the morning, sitting under a table not more than 10 feet from its box. Another Guinea pig fact is that the animal is a very careful and cautious explorer, and this one seemed to prove that point.
Fact Number 5 - Guinea pigs have advanced the cause of science and medicine. We long have used the metaphor human Guinea pig for someone who is the subject of research or experimentation. The Guinea pig is responsible for advances in studies of infectious disease including typhoid, cholera, tuberculosis, and diphtheria. In making these advancements possible they have at times been assisted by men in white coats. Rats and mice are slowly taking over in this area, for which the Guinea pig is probably somewhat grateful. The Guinea pig has had its moments of fame in another area, being passengers on Soviet and Chinese orbiting spacecraft.