Guinea pig - why guinea pig? Origin of name. What does a guinea pig have to do with water?

Guinea pig is one of the most popular animals that people keep at home. Pigs are chosen as pets for their ease of care, modest disposition and friendliness. And the most frequently asked question, which the owners of charming fluffies ask themselves: Why was a guinea pig called a guinea pig? After all, she has nothing to do with the sea, doesn’t like to swim, and even seafood is superfluous in her diet. The cheat sheet will help answer this question too 😉

Why was the pig called guinea pig?

It’s strange: a pig, and a guinea pig at that, but the animal has nothing to do with pigs or the sea. This rodent is a close relative of the porcupine. But in everyday life he is very talkative, and when he hears sounds associated with cooking, he gets excited and starts squealing like a pig - that’s how he turns out to be a “pig.” And the guinea pig’s nose is very similar to a snout. Just look:

And there is also an explanation for the fact that it is a sea pig: the animal’s homeland is America, and it turned into an “overseas pig”, and then completely into a guinea pig. Here why is a guinea pig called that?, and not otherwise

At first glance, it seems strange that an animal that is unable to swim, climb, or dig holes feels very good in a natural environment and, one might even say, thrives. The fact is that the landscape of her homeland includes dense thickets bushes and animals are excellent at hiding in them.

The animal has changed noticeably thanks to human protection. Wild, it is colored modestly so as not to be conspicuous: dark brown, slightly reddish, with very small dark ripples on the back and sides and a light red belly, or variegated - white-yellow-black. But there is no one for the family to hide from, and people breed white, black, and black and yellow pigs, which in itself is very interesting.

Domesticated pigs also differ in the structure of their hair: there are Angora pigs, with long hair, and curly pigs with rosettes.

If you are interested in crossbreeding work, you can combine both of these characteristics and get completely unusual beast, resembling a porcupine, with the difference, of course, that it does not have quills sticking out in different directions, but long hairs.

Guinea pig: character and habits

Guinea pigs are quickly and easily tamed and quickly begin to recognize the person caring for them. If you know how to handle them, they sit easily and calmly in your arms and are quite easy to train. Their paws cannot hold food. But they are good at using their teeth and can ring a bell and raise a flag.

The offspring of pigs are very small. Three cubs is already a lot for a guinea pig, but usually there are only one or two. And for the initial study of the heredity of the transmission of traits corresponding to the so-called Mendelian laws, Guinea pigs very suitable. In particular, they can clearly observe the so-called dominant (dominant) and recessive (returning) sequences.

What scientists consider to be a disadvantage of animals is that moderate fertility makes it convenient for home care. If there are a pair of pigs in a cage, then in two months there will be offspring. Babies are very funny and independent, they quickly get used to adult food, like little hares, they run around in the first hours after birth, they are already covered in fur, and even their eyes are open.

These are surprisingly comfortable animals: they do not climb anywhere, they do not have the habit of gnawing at night or running, they do not disturb sleeping people and can live in the most simple rooms. But if it’s “comfortable”, then you need a spacious box or mesh cage measuring 40x70 centimeters, and inside - a small plank house, where the pigs will sleep.

But, of course, pigs are not without their “disadvantages.” They catch colds easily, you need to protect them from drafts. And they love the light. If the cage is in a dark corner, then it would be nice to place a table lamp nearby.

Pigs are famous for their peaceful disposition and can be handled freely. But they also know how to fight, and quite hard. The writer of these lines once, while trying to separate fighting males, received a bite in the base of his palm and then for several years wore the mark as a memory of the results of the “failed peace initiative.”

Therefore, you must first study the character of your charges, and only then become familiar. Each guinea pig- mine character and habits.

A pig is a small pig. This is the first definition that comes to mind. But it turns out that not only the pet in grandma’s barn is called this way. It is also a childhood infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the parotid gland. It is also an oblong metal ingot in the shape of a bar. This is what they call a wooden block for playing gorodki in some areas. And in ancient times, a dolphin was called a pig (information from Explanatory dictionary Ushakov).

There is also a guinea pig. Small domestic rodent. Very funny, friendly and easy to train. But fortunately or unfortunately, he does not look like a pig, or an infection, or a piece of wood. And he doesn't like to swim. Then what does the “guinea pig” have to do with it? Why is this cute animal called that?

Why "pig"?

It is noteworthy that this fluffy rodent is called “pig” not only by Russians. Other nations also have something similar in their name.

• In England - small Indian, nimble or domestic pig (Indian little pig, Restless cavy, Guinea pig, Domestic cavy).
• In France - Indian pig (cochon d "Inde).
• In Spain - the same as in France (Cochinillo das India).
• In Belgium - mountain pig (cochon des montagnes).

Italy, Holland and Portugal of the little animal are in some way in solidarity with each other. The term used in Germany is also translated similarly to the Russian name.

The similarity of this animal to a pig is not striking, but it is still there:

• massive head (in comparison with the body);
• elongated body;
• short neck and short legs;
• coarse wool wild representatives race);
• hoof-like claws;
• lack of a tail (a pig, of course, has one, but it’s so ridiculous that it’s easier not to notice such a twig-like tail);
• in a state of complete satisfaction and satiety, small rodents grunt, and when frightened, they squeal (which is very reminiscent of the behavior of a well-known large domestic animal).

Zoologists turned out to agree with the opinion of mere mortals (after all, people write zoology) and classified the plump rodent as a member of the Pig family (Half-ungulates). Zoological brothers/sisters - rabbit, squirrel, beaver. The domestic pig is not included here (it belongs to the Pork family).

What does “sea” have to do with it?

In most cases, people call animals the way they perceive them. The leading role in the name can be played not only appearance, but also the behavior, habits, and attitude of a person towards this living being. Why is the hare “slanty”? Why is a squirrel called "squirrel"? And the woodpecker as a “forest doctor”?

But the pig? What does the sea have to do with it?

Tame small rodents - descendants wild inhabitants South America. IN natural nature they run very fast and nimble. They eat only at night, and become especially active in the morning and twilight hours. They set up their houses in mountain crevices, burrows, or construct their own dwellings from plants.

Wild pigs live in packs. Each family has its own territory, which is protected from individuals from other packs. They feed on plants. And they reproduce at any time of the year.

Wild animals became domesticated a long time ago. They were first domesticated by the Andean people. People built enclosures for little pets, fed them with the remains of their food, and then killed them for food and rituals. Proof of this fact are the results of excavations. The remains of pig enclosures and bones of these animals were found, dating back to the third millennium BC.

And today in the Andes no one will refuse a dish made from “sea” meat. This is a delicious and delicate delicacy that is not accessible to everyone.

Later, the cute rodents were not only eaten, but also bred for laboratory experiments. The animal is very sensitive and receptive to many stimuli, which benefits scientists. His reaction to the injected substances could be observed almost immediately. Today, by the way, many laboratories experiment on these rodents, not rats.

The domesticated rodent came to Europe around the second half of the sixteenth century. It can be assumed that people became acquainted with this animal from west to east. The animal most likely came to Russia from Germany. And there the small pet was already called “sea”. The Russians simply borrowed the name.

Pigs were brought on ships “from overseas.” At first, presumably, they were called “overseas”. Then they cut it. It turned out - “sea”.

The animal does not like water. Does not settle near the sea. Therefore, this single explanation for its name can be considered the most reliable.

Guinea pigs are one of the pets with the most controversial opinions about themselves. Some people love them as cute pets, for some they are a source of food, and for others they are mysterious, incomprehensible creatures. But don’t despair, now we will try to find out all the reasons why a guinea pig is a guinea pig.

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Why are guinea pigs called that?

As mentioned above, there are many opinions as to why these rodents have such a name that is not related to rodents. It's no secret that the names of animals in different countries and on different languages is different. Also, no one will be surprised by the fact that animals are given names because of any factors influencing their life or behavior: because of their appearance, habits, method of appearance, and others.

Guinea pigs are no exception. Of course, it is not known for certain why these rodents are called pigs. However, why they are called marine is quite understandable. No, they didn't come to us from depths of the sea, are not famous sailors and in fact have nothing to do with the sea. Moreover, they are called “sea” only in several countries of the world - in Russia, in former countries USSR, Poland and Germany.

There are many opinions about why they are called pigs.

I will try to list them here for you:

1. Because of the sounds they make. These sounds are similar to the grunting and squealing of young piglets.
2. Because of the shape of the head and body. Proportionally, the head of pigs is similar to the body structure of real pigs, and they also do not have a neck or waist.
3. Taste of meat. Initially, in their homeland they were primarily consumed as food. And the meat of these small rodents could resemble the meat of a young pig. Perhaps this factor influenced the name.
4. The method of preparing them for food. The Peruvians, in order to remove the fur from the carcasses of these animals, doused them with boiling water. They prepared pig carcasses for cooking in the same way.
5. Their love for food. , just like non-marine ones, love to eat. They are constantly chewing something. Perhaps it was this similarity that influenced their name.
6. Guinea pigs were transported to Europe by ship and kept in pens in which pigs were usually transported for food for the crew. Maybe that's when they got their name?

Many people are interested in knowing why these animals received such a name. Even schools sometimes assign similar tasks for children’s reports. One girl, having received such an assignment, posted her research online. Look what she did.

origin of name

First, let's try to clarify why they are called “sea”. It's not that complicated. They were brought to Europe from Peru, i.e. from the mainland of South America. And initially they were called “overseas” animals. Over the years, the word “overseas” has been deformed into “sea”. Although, most likely, no one will tell you when this happened and why exactly. Perhaps this is our “fault” modern language, in which we have not used such words as “overseas” for a very long time. Or maybe we should say maritime is a little shorter than overseas? In any case, now it is definitely called sea and this name has stuck with it for a long time.

If everything is more or less clear with the word “marine”, then why these mammals, and even rodents, are called pigs is completely unclear. Interestingly, the scientific name of guinea pigs is Cavia porcellus, naturally Latin. And although it is not clear how to translate the word cavia, porcellus is a small pig. This name points us to another mystery rather than revealing the secret of the origin of her name. After all, this means that this animal has been called a pig for a very long time.

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An interesting fact is that in different countries and in different languages ​​these rodents are called pigs, but with different additions. And this despite the fact that the Spanish colonists, seeing these animals, first called them rabbits!

On French they are called "Indian pig", and in Portuguese they add "little Indian pig", which undoubtedly indicates that they were brought there from India. In Danish they are known as "guinea pig", again due to how they came to Denmark. But they most likely came to China from Holland, because there they are called “Dutch pigs.”

These animals received the closest name, and which has nothing in common with pigs, in Japan and Spain. The Japanese call them morumotto, which is derived from English word, translated as “marmot”. And on Spanish they remained “little rabbits from the East Indies.”

But in England they were called quite strangely - guinea pig. Literally, this phrase can be translated as “Guinea pig” or “pig for a guinea.” This name raises several questions and speculation is still being made as to why it is Guinean.

Here are some versions:

1. Perhaps it became Guinean because the British were accustomed to considering Guinea part of India. And that’s why they called it that way, showing descendants where, in their opinion, these animals appeared in England.
2. According to another version, it is assumed that in Europe they were also originally eaten. And at the market they were sold for a guinea - an English gold coin that was in use until 1816. One can imagine how the British, walking through the market and buying small carcasses of animals unknown to them, could assume that such a breed of pigs lived in India, especially if the carcasses were sold without heads and skins.
3. Perhaps that is why they got their name - pigs. And if you consider that a carcass can be bought for a guinea, then here’s the name: pig for a guinea. But all these are just assumptions and nothing more.

These cute animals are interesting not only for their mysterious and almost inexplicable name. There are a number of other interesting facts about these small Peruvian rodents.

1. The first people to keep them as pets were the Incas. Although they also raised small pigs for food.
2. These rodents were first mentioned during the conquest of Peru and Bolivia. In documents of those times they were called “local little rabbits.”
3. The peoples inhabiting the Andes, both in the past and to this day, eat guinea pigs for food. However, this reminds us very much of our eating rabbits.
4. But Europeans, according to some documents, used guinea pigs primarily as experimental animals in laboratories. And much later they became the pets of Europeans.
5. At that moment (when Europeans recognized guinea pigs as pets), these rodents were worth a fortune. And only very wealthy people could afford to have such an animal at home. And the animals themselves were considered rare and were a sign of the luxury of its owner.
6. In the wild, guinea pigs live in minks in flocks of 10-15 individuals. They breed all year round.
7. There are also some mysteries in the physiology of guinea pigs. For example, babies are born with with open eyes, which is very different from the young of other rodent species. And within a couple of hours after birth, the baby guinea pig moves calmly and behaves like an independent member of the pack.
8. Female pigs remain pregnant for 2-2.5 months. And they live on average 7-8 years.
9. They have an excellent memory, so they are easy to train.
10. IN South America Guinea pigs were believed to attract bad luck. Maybe that’s why the indigenous population perceived them only as producers of meat for food?

Video "Naked Guinea Pigs"

Watch a video showing naked mammals. You may find some similarities with the appearance of pigs.

Guinea pig is what this animal is called in Russia and in two or three other countries. But why a pig, and why a guinea pig? Where did this cute rodent get such a strange name?

Why a pig, it will become clear to you as soon as the pet gets used to the new place, begins to recognize you and understands where the “goodies” come from. An immediate demanding sound, like a grunt or squeal, will provide the answer.

According to another version, the pig owes its name to the Spanish conquerors, who thought they looked like suckling pigs.

Another idea why the guinea pig is called a pig is because the lower parts of the limbs of these rodents are shaped like hooves. In addition, some say that this animal is similar to pigs due to the structure of the head and rather elongated body. In addition, they were bred for meat, just like ordinary pigs in Europe.

And it is not called seafaring because it loves to swim in the sea. Obviously, this word has lost the prefix “for”. The pig was overseas, that is, brought from overseas.

The wild ancestors of our domesticated pigs still live in Peru. Cavy - this is what guinea pigs are called in other countries. Another name for these animals is Cuinea Pig - “pig for a guinea.” Either such pigs cost one guinea, or they were equated in price to one guinea and were used to pay for goods.

While in our country guinea pigs are known as popular pets, in their homeland in Central and South America these small rodents have been bred for thousands of years large quantities They are not meant to be kept as pets. In Peru, guinea pigs have always been bred and are still bred today as food. A special large specimen was even bred here, called Cuy - kui, which means “big”. Such “fodder” pigs can weigh up to four kilograms. Their meat is said to be similar to tender pork. But pigs are not only suppliers of meat for Peruvians; their skin is used to produce clothing and shoes. In addition, no trip to the local healer is complete without this black rodent. For example, it is believed that if a pig is simply applied to a sore stomach, the animal will take the pain upon itself. The local doctor usually takes payment for his services in food. Of course, there are ordinary doctors in the country, but the indigenous people, with their more than modest incomes, cannot afford them. It is interesting that, despite such strange treatment, the local population does not know what oncology and heart attacks are, and they are not familiar with asthma. This animal is highly valued by local residents and is even considered the best gift newlyweds at the wedding.

Popular pets include guinea pigs. They do not take up much space and are suitable for keeping in small apartments, they are quite unpretentious in food and care, children like them and have a good-natured disposition. But why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs, because in their way of life they are in no way related to aquatic animals? The material below will help you figure it out.

Brief introduction

The guinea pig is a representative of the order of rodents of the pig family. Despite the name, these crumbs have nothing to do with pigs and boars, because pigs are small rodents, inhabiting savannas and feeding on vegetation. In terms of structural features, they are close to lagomorphs.

For the first time, the indigenous inhabitants of the American continent, the Indians, began to domesticate pigs and eat them as food; these rodents came to Europe only during the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries.

History of the name

Why is a guinea pig called that? It turns out that the rodent makes characteristic sounds that remind many of the grunting of pigs, although these cute creatures have nothing in common with these artiodactyls.

And the word “sea” was added by the Europeans, because in order to bring animals to their homeland, they had to transport them on ships across the sea. Therefore, initially the epithet was “overseas”, but gradually the prefix “for” disappeared, and people replenished lexicon a phrase familiar to us.

However, back in the 16th century, when these rodents became favorites of the European aristocracy, they were often called “little” or “Indian rabbits,” because at first America was considered India.

Variations in the origin of the name

We answered the question of why guinea pigs are called guinea pigs. But this is not the only version of the origin of the name of tame rodents. Thus, several more hypotheses can be identified:

• Theory external resemblance. Despite the obvious differences between rodents and artiodactyls, several similar features can be noted in their appearance. So, small eyes and short legs are characteristic of both. The rodents' small legs end in tiny hooves, making them look like wild boars. Spanish travelers noticed these features and gave the animals the appropriate name.
• Rodents, like pigs, are unpretentious in food and maintenance; they can eat almost anything and live in pens. Therefore, the second hypothesis explained the origin of the name by the similarity of conditions in captivity.
• Finally, there is a version that explains why the guinea pig was called a guinea pig, the similarity of the methods of preparing the rodent and the artiodactyl: both were doused with boiling water, which made it possible to clear the skin of hair much faster. This is exactly what the natives and American aborigines did with guinea pigs. Often these babies were bred and kept “for meat”, just like artiodactyls.

Of course, these versions are interesting, but the main hypothesis seems the most plausible.

Linguistic data

The history of the origin of words will help you understand why the guinea pig is so named. The Latin term “cavia porcellus” is well known in science, where the word “porcellus” means “small pig”, and “cavia” comes from the word “cabiai”, which is how the animal was called in one of the tribes of South America.

What are other names for rodents?

We looked at why guinea pigs are called guinea pigs. It is interesting that this name is not used everywhere, but only in Germany, Russia and the CIS; in other countries animals are called differently:

• the Japanese call pigs marmots;
• the Spaniards - rabbits;
• in some countries the animals are called “cavyi”, “kewi”, “cavey”;
• the names “Indian”, “mountain”, “Guinea” pigs are known.

The following fact is known: at one time rodents could be purchased for a guinea, so the name “Guinean pigs” was attached to them, but during use in speech a mistake was made, and the animal became “Guinean”, although it had nothing to do with this country.

Some interesting facts

Having learned why guinea pigs are called guinea pigs, let's get acquainted with several interesting facts from the world of these amazing animals.

• If we know them as cute pets, then in Peru pigs are often fattened, reaching a weight of over 4 kg. According to their own taste qualities Rodent meat is very aromatic, tender and is considered dietary.
• Black guinea pigs are considered true healers among the indigenous people of America. Local residents believe that they are able to absorb diseases and cure a person.
• The Guinness Book of Records record holder is a guinea pig that lived for 15 years.
• After the Spaniards brought the animals to Europe, the kids fell in love with the aristocracy, so prices for pigs skyrocketed, and not every rich person could afford such a pet.

So, the answer to the question “why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs” cannot be given definitively. On this moment There are several hypotheses, each of them is supported by completely logical arguments, so for now anyone has the right to choose the option that seems most attractive. One thing is obvious - these animals are so smart and unpretentious that they will become real pets for the whole family.