Miniature hippos – hairless guinea pigs (photo)

What would we do without modern technology and the Internet? Well, after all, they definitely would not have known that, it turns out, there is a breed of hairless guinea pigs in the world, and they look almost exactly like small copies of hippos.Photo: boredpanda.com Photos of hairless pigs began to scatter across the Internet and not without reason cause people to ask – how can a guinea pig not have hair at all? Many even suggested that someone decided to shave the kids, and worried about their well-being.

Photo: boredpanda.com In fact, this is really such a breed, it is called “skinny”. In such pigs, hair does not grow on the body. Hair can be seen only on the muzzle and paws.

Photo: boredpanda.com This unusual appearance is due to a genetic mutation that was first recognized in 1978. In 1982, scientists decided to continue the genus of hairless guinea pigs, and from there they, unfortunately, ended up in laboratories where dermatological research is carried out. Skinnies are still often found there.

{banner_video}

However, this breed of pig also makes excellent pets. They do not differ from their counterparts with wool in anything, except for their body temperature – it is much higher for them and reaches 40 degrees. To maintain it, skinnies need to eat a little more than other guinea pigs.

Photo: boredpanda.com Although skinnies have become pets relatively recently (in the 1990s), they can already be seen in many homes in Canada and Europe, including Russia.

Photo: boredpanda.comTranslated for Wikipet.You might also be interested in: The Internet helped to find a home for a dog a few hours before euthanasia«