List of guinea pig breeds
Wikimedia list article
Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), also known as cavies, have been domesticated since c. 5000 BCE. Selective breeding has produced a wide range of domestic guinea pig breeds, distinguished mainly by coat length, texture, colour, pattern, and body type.
Modern guinea pig breeds are used primarily as companion animals and exhibition animals. Some strains have also been developed for use as laboratory animals and model organisms in biomedical research.
As with most domesticated animals, guinea pig breeds exhibit a wide range of physical characteristics and serve various purposes. Some are show breeds, notable for their long, flowing hair, while others are laboratory breeds, used as model organisms in scientific research.
History and organizations
As early as the 500s CE, Indigenous peoples in South America selectively bred guinea pigs, known in the Andes as cuy. Early Andean varieties were kept mainly as livestock for food. These local landrace populations became part of the foundation for some modern domestic breeds.
Guinea pigs were exported to Europe in the late 16th or early 17th century, and later to North America in the 19th century, as part of the exotic pet trade. Their appeal as pets and exhibition animals was aided by the variety of their coat colours, patterns, and inherited traits.
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