![]() The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped animals and often depicted the guinea pig in their art. Statues dating from circa 500 BC to 500 AD that depict guinea pigs have been unearthed in archaeological digs in Peru and Ecuador. Regionally known as cuy, the guinea pig was first domesticated as early as 5000 BC for food by tribes in the Andean region of South America (the present-day southern part of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia), some thousands of years after the domestication of the South American camelids. They are crepuscular and tend to be most active during dawn and dusk, when it is harder for predators to spot them. While they do not burrow themselves or build nests, they frequently seek shelter in the burrows of other animals, as well as in crevices and tunnels formed by vegetation. Herds of animals move together, eating grass or other vegetation, yet do not store food. They are social animals, living in the wild in small groups (" herds") that consist of several females ("sows"), a male ("boar"), and their young ("pups" not "piglets", a break with the preceding porcine nomenclature). Wild cavies are found on grassy plains and occupy an ecological niche similar to that of cattle. guianae, may be domestic guinea pigs that have become feral by reintroduction into the wild. Some species of cavy identified in the 20th century, such as C. Studies from 2007 to 2010 applied molecular markers, and studied the skull and skeletal morphology of current and mummified animals, thereby revealing the ancestor to most likely be C. tschudii, which are still commonly found in various regions of South America. However, they are still used in research, primarily as models to study such human medical conditions as juvenile diabetes, tuberculosis, scurvy (like humans, they require dietary intake of vitamin C), and pregnancy complications.Ĭavia porcellus is not found naturally in the wild it is likely descended from closely related species of cavies, such as C. Since that time, they have been largely replaced by other rodents, such as mice and rats. ![]() The animals were used so frequently as model organisms in the 19th and 20th centuries that the epithet guinea pig came into use to describe a human test subject. īiological experimentation on domestic guinea pigs has been carried out since the 17th century. Marketers tried to increase consumption of the animal outside South America. In the 1960s a modern breeding program was started in Peru that resulted in large breeds known as cuy mejorados ( improved cuy). They are raised for their meat and are a culinary staple in the Andes Mountains, where they are known as cuy. ![]() The animals are also used in folk medicine and in community religious ceremonies. Livestock breeds of the guinea pig play an important role in folk culture for many indigenous Andean peoples, especially as a food source. Many specialized breeds, with varying coat colors and textures, are selected by breeders. Organizations devoted to the competitive breeding of guinea pigs have been formed worldwide. Their docile nature, friendly responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them have continued to make guinea pigs a popular choice of household pet. In Western society, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a pet since its introduction to Europe and North America by European traders in the 16th century. They were originally domesticated as livestock for a source of meat, and are still consumed in some parts of the world. Studies based on biochemistry and hybridization suggest they are domesticated animals that do not exist naturally in the wild, descendants of a closely related cavy species such as C. They originated in the Andes of South America. Despite their common name, guinea pigs are not native to Guinea, nor are they closely related biologically to pigs, and the origin of the name is still unclear. Breeders tend to use the word cavy to describe the animal, while in scientific and laboratory contexts, it is far more commonly referred to by the common name guinea pig. The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy ( / ˈ k eɪ v i/ KAY-vee), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus Cavia in the family Caviidae.
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