Difference between revisions of "Guinea pig"
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'''Guinea pigs''' are [[rodent]]s commonly kept as pets in a similar manner to [[rabbit]]s. 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 [[hamster]]s). 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. As with [[rabbit]]s, they eat [[vegetables]] such as [[carrot]]s and [[lettuce]] and are easy to feed and take care of. | '''Guinea pigs''' are [[rodent]]s commonly kept as pets in a similar manner to [[rabbit]]s. 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 [[hamster]]s). 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. As with [[rabbit]]s, they eat [[vegetables]] such as [[carrot]]s and [[lettuce]] and are easy to feed and take care of. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Animal testing== |
| − | Guinea pigs | + | Guinea pigs are used for the purposes of testing drugs and cosmetics before trials on [[human]], along with [[rat]]s, mice and other small rodents. Because of this, the term ''to be guinea pigs'' is sometimes used for someone or a group of people to be testing or trialling something for the first time, for example a class of students may say "we we're ''guinea pigs'' for the new course structure". |
| + | |||
| + | ==As food== | ||
| + | Outside of the west, guinea pigs are sometimes eaten and are even considered somewhat of a delicacy in some parts of [[Peru]]. | ||
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[[Category:Animals]] | [[Category:Animals]] | ||
[[Category:Mammals]] | [[Category:Mammals]] | ||
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| + | triallist | ||
Revision as of 21:33, March 25, 2011
| Guinea pig | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Class Information | |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Sub-order | Hystricomorpha |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Caviidae |
| Sub-family | Caviinae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Cavia |
| Species Information | |
| Species | porcellus |
| Population statistics | |
Guinea pigs are rodents 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. As with rabbits, they eat vegetables such as carrots and lettuce and are easy to feed and take care of.
Animal testing
Guinea pigs are used for the purposes of testing drugs and cosmetics before trials on human, along with rats, mice and other small rodents. Because of this, the term to be guinea pigs is sometimes used for someone or a group of people to be testing or trialling something for the first time, for example a class of students may say "we we're guinea pigs for the new course structure".
As food
Outside of the west, guinea pigs are sometimes eaten and are even considered somewhat of a delicacy in some parts of Peru.
triallist
