Guinea Pig - Animals Town

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Guinea Pig

Scientific Name: Cavia Porcellus
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: 20-25cm (8-10in)
Weight: 700-1,200g (1.5-2.5lbs)
Top Speed: 9km/h (5.5mph)
Life Span: 4-7 years
Lifestyle: Solitary

What does a Guinea Pig look like?
The guinea pig is a small, furry herbivore that rarely grows to more than 30cm in length. The domestic guinea pig can get to around 6 or 7 years old. A wild guinea pig would probably be about 3 or 4.

Guinea Pig video.

Where does the Guinea Pig live?
The guinea pig is found in the Andes mountains in South America, were it is used as a stable food source for the local peoples. Todays domestic guinea pig is thought to be a subspecies of the Andes guinea pig and therefore cannot be found in the wild.

What does a Guinea Pig eat?
Wild guinea pigs tend to eat grass and small plant matter as the main part of their diet and the continuously growing teeth of the guinea pig are well suited to such a diet. The wild guinea pig is also known to supplement its diet by eating its own feces, soft pellets that are specially produced by the guinea pig so that it can digest the vital nutrients contained within it.

How do Guinea Pigs communicate?
The guinea pig tends to communicate through a series of high pitched squeals. Apparently guinea pigs are unable to judge height and distances accurately and should therefore never be left on a bed or table without supervision.

Guinea Pig images