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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Guinea
pig, cavy |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Rodentia |
| FAMILY: |
Caviidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Cavia
(rat) porcellus (little pig) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Guinea pig has a short and robust body, large head,
no tail, and colors that range from black to golden
to white |
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| SIZE: |
Averages
20-35 cm. (8-14 in.) long |
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| WEIGHT: |
0.45-1.36
kg (1-3 lbs.) |
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| DIET: |
Herbivorous;
eats variety of grasses, leaves, hay, vegetables |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts approximately 65-75 days, 1-4 young are born,
and can have 3-5 litters per year |
| ESTRAL
PERIOD |
16.5
days (average) |
| NURSING
DURATION |
3
weeks, though capable of wean at 5 days |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
3
months |
| FEMALE |
2
months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 10 years (5 years average) |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
tropical to semi-tropical grasslands, and semi-arid
desert |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown;
common |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Some wild relatives of the domestic guinea pig include:
capybara, mara, rock cavy, paca, and nutria. |
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| 2. |
Domestic guinea pigs are of three basic types, according
to the type and length of their hair. The American/English
cavy has short hair with a smooth coat. The Abyssinian
cavy has a wiry coat with hair that swirls into
rosettes. The Peruvian cavy has straight hair that
is long and silky. |
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| 3. |
Females are called "sows"; males are "boars". |
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| 4. |
The
guinea pig young open their eyes in their mother's
womb 14 days before birth. At birth they can walk
immediately. They are also born with permanent teeth
that are constantly growing throughout their life. |
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| 5. |
The
name "guinea pig" is misleading. "Guinea"
refers to Guyana, one country within their range.
Their short robust body gives them a piggish appearance.
They do make squealing and grunting sounds, but
are not closely related to pigs. |
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| Cavies
are highly adaptable in the wild. They are among
the most abundant and widespread of the native rodents
of South America. They also serve as an important
food source for several other species in their habitat. |
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|
|
Behrend, K. 1991. Guinea Pigs - A Complete Pet
Owner's Manual. Barron's Educational Series,
Inc. New York. |
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Grzimek, B. 1990. Grzimek's Encyclopedia, Mammals.
McGraw-Hill Publishing, Co. New York. |
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Macdonald, D. 1999. The Encyclopedia of Mammals.
Andromeda Oxford Limited. London.
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