This is how guinea pigs got their name. Habitat and lifestyle of guinea pigs in the wild. Guinea pig nutrition

The animal’s homeland is America, and it turned into an “overseas pig”, and then completely into a guinea pig. Many people are surprised why cute, furry, rather miniature animals are called pigs, and even sea pigs.

In appearance, they bear little resemblance to piglets, and they cannot stand water procedures.

There is an explanation for this “philological riddle,” but to solve it you will have to take a trip into history.

The homeland of guinea pigs is South America. They are common in the Andes and live in groups in self-dug burrows, just like wild rabbits. The natural color of these rodents is modest and does not differ in variety; it has a gray-black tint.

Indians have long consumed guinea pig meat: it has a delicate and pleasant taste and is considered dietary.

Wild pig. In Peru, these animals are still raised on farms and served in restaurants as a delicacy.

Of course, when breeding Special attention is not paid to obtaining new colors, like ornamental breeds, but an increase in the size of individuals. Some “meat” pigs reach a weight of 4 kg.

During the discovery and conquest of America, the Spaniards paid attention to funny plump animals with a body and head shape reminiscent of suckling pigs. We tried it and liked it. This is how guinea pigs came to Europe, and then to Asia and Africa. Gradually they began to play exclusively the role of pets.

Linguistic versions of the origin of the name

In Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, the guinea pig is called "Indian". Why? It’s simple, because at first America was considered and called India. English version- “Guinean” (possibly bought for a guinea; perhaps the British confused America with Guinea, which was closer and more understandable to them).

In Russia, things were even simpler. Why is the guinea pig called so - guinea pig? Was a foreign “unknown animal” brought from overseas? So she's overseas. Gradually, the prefix “for” lost its meaning, and the pig turned into a guinea pig. Obviously, the Germans had the same line of thinking; in Germany, the principle of phrase structure is identical to Russian.

Pigs on a ship - lucky?

With the development of navigation, pigs, living up to their name, began to travel on ships. They were used as food. This was convenient in many ways.

Animals were brought to Europe on ships. These unpretentious compact animals did not take up much space, did not require special care, were flexible, but had excellent meat.

In addition, they got along well with the permanent inhabitants of the holds - rats (relatives, after all), and in times of danger they made sharp and piercing sounds, warning the crew about a possible shipwreck.

In a word, comfortable and profitable “passengers” from all sides.

Tricks of cunning priests

In the time of Columbus, Catholic priests were distinguished by gluttony - they loved to eat delicious food and tried in every possible way to circumvent the strict requirements of fasting. With the discovery of America, they had new opportunities to circumvent the rules.

The “holy fathers” reasoned like this. Guinea pigs are brought on ships by sea. And with them - their distant relatives - the world's largest aquatic rodents - capybaras. This means that they can be classified as fish and, accordingly, eaten during fasting.

You got out of it, you can’t say anything!

Why pigs anyway? There are several reasons:

• They make sounds similar to grunting.
• They are similar in body structure - rounded head and body, short limbs.
• Delicious juicy meat, however, in guinea pigs it is more like rabbit meat.

The guinea pig (Latin: Cavia procellus) is a domesticated mammalian rodent belonging to the genus Guinea and the family Gilts. Even despite its very original name, this type mammals are not related to pigs or marine life.

Origin story

The domestication of guinea pigs occurred in the fifth millennium, even BC, with the active participation of Andean tribes in South America. Such animals were actively used as food by the ancestors of modern inhabitants of southern Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. It is generally accepted that wild guinea pigs themselves sought warmth and protection in human housing.

The Incas had a guinea pig for a long time was a sacrificial animal, so such mammals were often sacrificed to the Sun God. Particularly popular were animals with variegated brown or pure white colors. The ancestor of modern domesticated guinea pigs was Cavia arerea tschudi, which is found in the southern regions of Chile, in places located at an altitude of no more than 4.2 thousand meters above sea level.

This is interesting! Mammals of this species form small groups and settle in fairly spacious underground burrows.

to his appearance and the body structure of C. arerea tshudi differs markedly from the currently known domestic guinea pigs, which is determined by the food supply, poor in water and rich in cellulose compounds.

Description of the guinea pig

According to zoological taxonomy, guinea pigs (Cavis cobaya) are prominent representatives family of half-ungulate rodents and have a characteristic appearance, as well as a special structure.

Appearance

The body structure of guinea pigs is very similar to the basic anatomical parameters and characteristics characteristic of most domesticated animals. However, there are a number of noticeable differences:

• the guinea pig has a pronounced cylindrical body shape, as well as a total length, usually in the range of 20-22 cm, but some mature individuals may be slightly longer;
• the animal's spine is represented by seven cervical, twelve thoracic, six lumbar, four sacral and seven caudal vertebrae;
• at guinea pig, as such, there is no tail, and such an animal is almost completely devoid of collarbones;
• male guinea pigs are slightly heavier than females, and the weight of an adult animal can vary between 0.7-1.8 kg;
• guinea pigs have very short legs, with both forelimbs noticeably shorter than the hind limbs;
• There are four toes on the front paws, and three on the hind paws, which with their external characteristics resemble miniature hooves;
• the guinea pig's coat grows at an average rate of 0.2-0.5 cm within one week;
• the sacrum area is characterized by the presence of sebaceous glands, and skin folds near the genitals and anus they have paranal glands with a specific secretion;
• The head of an adult guinea pig is quite large, with a fairly well-developed brain;
• a mammal's incisors grow throughout life, and average speed growth processes are approximately one and a half millimeters per week;
• honors lower jaw Guinea pig is able to move freely regardless of direction;
• The total length of the intestine significantly exceeds the size of the mammal’s body, so the digestion process can be delayed for a week.

Color, structural parameters and coat length can be very different, which is directly dependent on the main breed characteristics. There are individuals with both very short and incredibly long, wavy or straight hair.

Character and lifestyle

IN natural conditions wild guinea pigs prefer to show greatest activity in the morning or immediately after dusk. The mammal is quite agile, can run quickly and always tries to remain on the alert. See wild pig possible not only in mountainous areas, but also in forest areas. Guinea pigs are not fans of digging holes and prefer to build a nest in a quiet and secluded place. To create a reliable and safe shelter, dry grass, fluff and fairly thin twigs are used.

This is interesting! Domesticated guinea pigs have become widespread not only as low-maintenance pets, but are also bred in vivariums at various research institutes.

The wild animal is very social, therefore it lives in a common territory in a large flock, among its relatives. Each flock or family is characterized by the presence of one male, who can have from ten to twenty females. At home, guinea pigs are kept in ordinary cages with sufficient space for walking, which is due to the activity of the animal. Such pets sleep several times a day, and if necessary, a guinea pig can rest without even closing its eyes.

How long does a guinea pig live?

The average lifespan of a wild guinea pig usually does not exceed seven years, and domestic mammal If you follow the rules of care and organize a proper diet, you can live for about fifteen years.

Guinea pig breeds

Decorative guinea pigs are among the very popular pets, which has become the reason for the breeding of an incredible number of original and unusual breeds of this unpretentious animal:

• The breed is distinguished by thick and beautiful, curly and long hair. Pigs have two rosettes on the back, as well as one, irregular in shape, on the forehead. The hair growing forward in the muzzle area forms whiskers, and the limbs are covered with hair exclusively from the bottom up;
• The Texel breed has a very beautiful and curly coat, which looks a little like a wet perm. Thanks to its very unusual and attractive hair, the Texel breed is one of the most popular in many countries;
• The Abyssinian breed is one of the most beautiful and oldest, distinguished by its hard coat with several rosettes in the form of quite long hair cov. Pigs of this breed are incredibly active and have an excellent appetite;
• The Merino breed has long and curly hair, as well as distinctive, well-developed cheeks and sideburns. The breed's characteristic feature is large eyes and ears, short head, as well as a strong and compact physique. On the pig’s head there is a symmetrical and noticeably raised “Crown”;
• The Peruvian breed is distinguished by long and beautiful hair that does not require special or too complex care. Owners of a guinea pig of this breed often use special curlers for their pet’s fur, which prevent excessive contamination of the long hair;
• The Rex breed is a short-haired breed, so the fur is distinguished by an unusual hair structure that visually makes the domestic pig look like a cute plush toy. In the area of ​​the head and back the coat is rougher;
• The Cornet breed in some countries is called “Crested” or “Crown-Wearing”, which is explained by the presence of a special rosette between the ears. The breed is distinguished by the presence of long hair throughout the body. The ancestors of the Cornet were the Sheltie and Crested breeds;
• The breed is characterized by long and straight, very silky hair, as well as the presence of a kind of mane in the head area, flowing down to the shoulders and back area of ​​the pig. Animals that are short-haired from birth receive their full coat only by the age of six months.

This is interesting! Guinea pigs of the Baldwin breed look very exotic and unusual, having soft and elastic, completely bare skin, and several barely noticeable and not too long hairs can be present only on the animal’s knees.

During the first few days after purchase, a domestic guinea pig, as a rule, behaves lethargically and very quietly, which is explained by standard adaptation pet. At this time, the animal is very timid, has a poor appetite and sits for a long time, frozen in one place. To make the adaptation period easier for the rodent, it is necessary to create an absolutely calm and friendly atmosphere in the room.

Cage, filling

By their nature, guinea pigs are shy animals, reacting heavily to any change in environment or too loud sounds. To keep them, you can use a terrarium or a cage with a tray, but the second option is preferable. The cage houses a house for sleeping or resting, as well as play attributes, feeders and drinking bowls. The dimensions of the house are selected taking into account the size of the animal.

Care, hygiene

Your pet needs to be protected not only from drafts, but also from prolonged exposure to direct sun rays. Water treatments are carried out as needed, and the coat is brushed weekly. A couple of times a year you can prune unworn naturally claws

Exhibition animals will require increased attention, which early age taught to sit in a motionless, strictly defined position. Long-haired pets must be accustomed to the daily process of combing, as well as winding their hair on special curlers. Smooth-haired and wire-haired pigs should be trimmed periodically.

Guinea pig diet

In their natural habitat, guinea pigs feed on roots and seeds of plants, leaves, berries and fruits that have fallen from trees or shrubs. The main food for a domestic guinea pig can be high-quality hay, which normalizes the condition of the digestive tract and allows the animal to grind down its teeth. Thanks to special structure digestive system, such pets eat food quite often, but in relatively small portions.

Various succulent foods are very relevant in the rodent’s diet, which can be represented by apples, lettuce, carrots and other vegetables. Sweet fruits, fruits and berries are given as treats. To effectively grind down the teeth, the animal is given apple or cherry twigs, celery or dandelion root. It is necessary to install a drinking bowl with clean and fresh water in the pig’s cage, which is mandatory must be replaced daily.

It is important to remember that guinea pigs are herbivores, so any food of animal origin should be excluded from the diet of such a pet. Among other things, adult animals cannot digest lactose, so supplementing such a pet’s diet with milk can cause the development of digestive disorders. Any low-quality feed and abrupt change diet cause severe illness and sometimes become the main cause of death.

Health, disease and prevention

An unbalanced diet or excessive feeding can cause fast development severe obesity.

Reproduction and offspring

It is best to mate guinea pigs for the first time when they are six months old. The female's estrus period lasts sixteen days, but fertilization is possible only for eight hours, after which pregnancy occurs, ending two months later with the appearance of offspring.

A week before the onset of labor, the female’s pelvic part expands. In a litter there are most often from two to three to five cubs. Newborn guinea pigs are well developed and are quite capable of moving independently. The female most often feeds her offspring for no longer than two months.

Like many other animals, the guinea pig different countries called differently. So, in England this rodent is called Indian little pig, restless cavy, guinea pig and domestic cavy. And in the dialect of the indigenous people of South America, a guinea pig is called “cavy”.

As for the origin English name guinea pig, then it is most likely explained by the way in which Europeans learned about the existence of this rodent. The British probably had more trade relations with the coast of Guinea than with South America, and therefore were accustomed to look at Guinea as part of India. Although there is another opinion: it is assumed that in Europe, as in its homeland, the guinea pig was originally used as food and sold in markets.

This explains the origin of the English name for the pig - guinea pig, i.e. “pig for a guinea” (the guinea was the main English gold coin until 1816, it received its name from the country of Guinea, where the gold necessary for its minting was mined). Some researchers attribute the origin of the name guinea pig to the fact that the word Guinea was used instead of the similar Guiana, since wild guinea pigs were exported from Guiana to Europe.

Residents of the Andes still breed guinea pigs on special farms and eat their meat.

The Spaniards living in America call this rodent a little rabbit, while other colonists continue to call it a little pig, that is, they use the name that was brought to Europe along with the animal. By the way, the guinea pig is called a small rabbit because before Europeans arrived in America, this rodent served as food for the indigenous Indians and all Spanish writers of that time referred to it as a rabbit.

There are more than 67 million domestic guinea pigs living on livestock farms in Peru. They produce more than 17,000 tons of nutritious meat per year. The Indians of the high Andes have been suppliers of guinea pig meat for centuries. It is highly valued in many countries and has a number of dietary and gastronomic qualities.

In France, the guinea pig is called cochon d'Inde - "Indian pig", and in Spain - Cochinillo das India - "Indian pig". The Italians and Portuguese also call this rodent the Indian pig - porcella da India and Porguinho da India - as do the Dutch, in whose language the animal is called Indiaamsoh varken. In Belgium, a guinea pig is called cochon des montagnes - “mountain pig”, and in Germany - Meerschweinchen, i.e. “guinea pig”.

Considering all of the above, we can make the assumption that the guinea pig spread in Europe from west to east, and the name that exists in Russia and Germany - “guinea pig” - most likely indicates that the pigs were brought from overseas (apparently , at first they were called overseas, and then sea).

Guinea pigs are fluffy, kind, harmless creatures with pleasant smooth fur and an intelligent look. Having arrived in Europe from South America, they quickly spread throughout the world. At one time, guinea pig meat was even eaten. Today these are pets, the care of which is minimal, but the emotional return is very high. Children love pigs for their warmth and good-natured disposition. And if you set a goal to breed these animals, you can get up to one hundred cubs a year.

History of Guinea Pigs

Many people wonder why guinea pigs are called that way. They have nothing to do with the sea or pigs. However, there is a version that they were called sea animals because the animals spread from west to east, and were brought to Russia on ships. This name came into the Russian language from Germany, but in other countries rodents are called “Indian”. And they were called pigs by the Spaniards, who first came to Peru and saw animals on the market that, in their opinion, looked like suckling pigs. These animals came to Europe in the 16th century; according to one version they were very expensive, but according to another, on the contrary, they were cheap and were even used as food. The facts are reliable that many owners in those days put poor pigs in jars of water and aquariums, assuming that these animals would swim.

The homeland of guinea pigs is South America. According to scientists, the history of these animals goes back more than thirty-five million years. The Incas sacrificed animals to the Sun God, and some tribes used the meat of pigs for food. Modern pigs in conditions natural environment habitats live in swampy lowlands and rocky places. They are more active at night, going for food. Exist different breeds guinea pigs, each of which has its own type of coat. The most common are American or short-haired animals, Shelties with long hair, Koropets with a rosette on the head, and Tessels with wavy hair. Each breed comes in many color variations. Red, yellow, chestnut, apricot, brown and black - the choice of coat color is huge.

Rules for keeping and caring for guinea pigs

All guinea pigs, regardless of breed, are non-aggressive, which is why children love them so much. Animals do not bite, love affection and attention, are friendly and smart. You can feed them grass and cheap plant food. However, like any other animal, guinea pigs also have their drawbacks, such as the presence of a specific odor and the need for careful care if the pet has long hair. But they can easily tolerate separation if the owners suddenly go on vacation and temporarily give the pet into the wrong hands. Guinea pigs must be kept in specially equipped cages. In the first few days, the animal will most likely hide in a corner and hide under the straw, which is understandable in an unfamiliar environment. Guinea pigs are very shy and quickly panic, so you should wait until the animal gets used to its new home. Very little time will pass and he will begin to recognize his owners, especially those who will feed him.

Do not forget that guinea pigs cannot tolerate bathing. You can only dip them in water in exceptional cases, using mild baby shampoo. These animals need to regularly trim their nails, otherwise they begin to grow incorrectly, forming bends and sagging, and sometimes even corkscrew curls. Those who are thinking about breeding guinea pigs should keep in mind that these animals are very fertile. Already a month after birth, females become sexually mature, and the gestation period for pets is about seventy days. During the year, one female guinea pig can give birth to up to one hundred cubs. Two females get along best in one cage. They behave calmly, without showing any aggression. But two males will definitely fight, causing severe injuries to each other. Of course, a guinea pig requires attentive attention and careful care, but in return it gives warmth and love to those who take care of it.

Anastasia Rylova

Guinea pig is what this animal is called in Russia and in two or three other countries. But why a pig, and why a guinea pig? Where did this cute rodent get such a strange name?

Why a pig, it will become clear to you as soon as the pet gets used to the new place, begins to recognize you and understands where the “goodies” come from. An immediate demanding sound, like a grunt or squeal, will provide the answer.

According to another version, the pig owes its name to the Spanish conquerors, who thought they looked like suckling pigs.

Another idea why the guinea pig is called a pig is because the lower parts of the limbs of these rodents are shaped like hooves. In addition, some say that this animal is similar to pigs due to the structure of the head and rather elongated body. In addition, they were bred for meat, just like ordinary pigs in Europe.

And it is not called seafaring because it loves to swim in the sea. Obviously, this word has lost the prefix “for”. The pig was overseas, that is, brought from overseas.

The wild ancestors of our domesticated pigs still live in Peru. Cavy - this is what guinea pigs are called in other countries. Another name for these animals is Cuinea Pig - “pig for a guinea.” Either such pigs cost one guinea, or they were equated in price to one guinea and were used to pay for goods.

While in our country guinea pigs are known as popular pets, in their homeland in Central and South America these small rodents have been bred for thousands of years large quantities They are not meant to be kept as pets. In Peru, guinea pigs have always been bred and are still bred today as food. A special large specimen was even bred here, called Cuy - kui, which means “big”. Such “fodder” pigs can weigh up to four kilograms. Their meat is said to be similar to tender pork. But pigs are not only suppliers of meat for Peruvians; their skin is used to produce clothing and shoes. In addition, no trip to the local healer is complete without this black rodent. For example, it is believed that if a pig is simply applied to a sore stomach, the animal will take the pain upon itself. The local doctor usually takes payment for his services in food. Of course, the country also has regular doctors, but the indigenous residents with their more than modest incomes cannot afford them. It is interesting that, despite such strange treatment, the local population does not know what oncology and heart attacks are, and they are not familiar with asthma. By local residents This animal is highly valued and is even considered the best wedding gift for a newlywed.