Guinea pig
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.
Guinea pigs can be used in animal testing (although rats 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.
