Animal Profiles
Mammals

Guinea pig

Cavia

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Guinea pigs are social rodents kept by people. This account focuses on the domestic guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), rather than every member of the genus Cavia.

Cavia porcellus (guinea pigs cavies)

Representative species: Cavia porcellus.

Gzen92 · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Domestic guinea pigs have South American origins and are now kept in many countries. Their domestic distribution should not be presented as the wild range of other cavies.
Habitat
Towns and cities
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Grasses, hay and other plant material provide food.

Classification

Common name
Guinea pig
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Cavia
Source classification
Mammalia

Three things to know

  • It has no visible tail.
  • Its incisors keep growing.
  • It is a social rodent.

Habitat and range

Domestic guinea pigs have South American origins and are now kept in many countries. Their domestic distribution should not be presented as the wild range of other cavies.

Appearance and adaptations

A compact body, short legs and rounded ears give it a distinctive shape. Domestic animals vary in coat colour and texture.

Diet and behaviour

Grasses, hay and other plant material provide food. Individuals spend much of their active time feeding, grooming and exploring. Social contact is important, although competition and dominance interactions can occur.

Sources

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