Guinea pigs
Rodents

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigsPictured: guinea pig

Order

Rodentia Rodents

family

Caviidae Guinea pigs

Subfamily

Guinea Caviinae

Race

Cavia Pallas Mumps

View

Cavia porcellus Guinea pig

General description of the guinea pig

Guinea pigs are small to medium sized rodents. The body length of a guinea pig, depending on the breed, ranges from 25 to 35 cm. The weight of an adult male guinea pig reaches 1 – 1,5 kg, the weight of a female is from 800 to 1200 grams. The physique can be heavy (with short limbs) or rather light (with long and thin limbs). Guinea pigs have a shortened neck, a large head, large eyes, and a complete upper lip. Ears can be short or quite long. The tail is sometimes barely noticeable, but sometimes it can reach a length of 5 cm. The claws of guinea pigs are sharp and short. There are 4 fingers on the forelimbs, 3 on the hind limbs. As a rule, the hair of guinea pigs is rather coarse. By nature, guinea pigs are brownish-gray in color, the abdomen is lighter. There are many breeds of guinea pigs, so anyone can choose a pet with the length, structure and color of the coat that he likes. The following groups of guinea pigs have been bred: 

  • Shorthaired (Smoothhaired, Selfies and Cresteds).
  • Longhair (Texels, Peruvian, Sheltie, Angora, Merino, etc.)
  • Wirehaired (American Teddy, Abyssinian, Rex and others)
  • Hairless or with a small amount of wool (skinny, baldwin).

 Domestic guinea pigs differ significantly from their wild relatives in body structure: they have more rounded shapes.

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