Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)
Authoritative first-hand species account (Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan). All bullet facts are verbatim from the cited source and C1-substring verified.
Natural History & Origin
- Guinea pigs no longer exist in their wild, native, grassland habitat.
- For example, they can live in a broad range of elevations, from sea
- hot or cold, guinea pigs can tolerate a large range of temperatures, from 22˚C in
Habitat
- Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that
- Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical
- and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
Size
- Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, no longer exist in the wild.
- Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 700 g and 1100 g, with males being
- from 20.3 cm to 25.4 cm in length.
Lifespan
- from a now extinct wild species that lived in northern and western South America.
- Guinea pigs can live up to 14 years in captivity, but have an average lifespan of
- Reproductively active guinea pigs generally have shorter lifespans of about
Behavior & Social Structure
- Guinea pigs are gregarious and prefer close contact with other conspecifics.
- are active during dusk and dawn (crepuscular) and when not sleeping, spend a majority
- pigs establish social hierarchies in which a single alpha male dominates subordinate
Reproduction
- As a result of selective breeding, 20 different phenotypes
- Male guinea pigs reach sexual maturity at 56 to 70 days old and females reach sexual
- Female estrus occurs 3 to 4 times per year and lasts approximately
Diet
- Guinea pigs are strict herbivores and depend on humans for food.
- consumption by domesticated mammalian herbivores such as guinea pigs.
- animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently