Despite the name, a '''guinea pig''' is not a species of [[pig]] at all but rather a small rodent native to parts of [[South America]].
+
Guinea pigs (sometimes called "wiggins" by children) are commonly kept as pets in a similar manner to [[rabbits]]. They are ideal for small children as they have a placid temperament and are large enough to be handled without causing distress to the animal (unlike some smaller pets such as [[hamsters]]). Like most rodents, guinea pigs can give birth to large litters of young and thus care should be taken when selecting males and females as pets.
−
A '''guinea pig''' is not a [[pig]] at all, but rather a small rodent native to parts of [[South America]].
+
Guinea pigs can be used in [[animal testing]] (although [[rat]]s and mice are more common. Outside of the west, guinea pigs are sometimes used as [[meat]] and are a delicacy in some parts of [[Peru]].
−
Guinea pigs are used extensively in [[animal testing]] and are a delicacy in some parts of [[Peru]].