Guinea pig, which belongs to the rodent Guinea pig familymammal, also known as Guinea pig, Dutch pig, sea pig and guinea pig.[24]According to the characteristics of the hair of guinea pigs, they can be divided into three varieties, namely short hair, long hair and hard hair.[25]Guinea pigs have large head, short neck, round ears, no tail, and short limbs;The forelimb has four toes, the hind limb has three toes, and has sharp short claws;The whole body is covered with fur, which is colorful, tight and shiny.[26]The guinea pig got its name because its feet looked like dolphins.[27]
Guinea pig originated fromSouth AmericaIn the 16th century, it was introduced into Europe as an animal to enjoy,[28]Distributed in South AmericaColumbiatoGuyanaOne Belt.Guinea pigs are alert, lively, docile, fat and cute, timid and easily frightened, and sometimes emit squeaks;Like a dry and clean living environment,[29]Social preference;[30]Love to eat, sleep and breed.Guinea pigs mainly eat weeds, and grass, vegetable leaves and other plants like to eat.In winter, corn stalks, wheat stalks, rice straw, peanut seedlings, etc. can be crushed and added with bran to meet their growth needs.guinea pigSexual maturityThe cycle is 35 days, the mating period is 6 times a year, the pregnancy cycle is 60-65 days, and the number of births per fetus is 4-8,[29]The life span is 4-5 years. The life span is closely related to the variety nutrition and the breeding environment. It is reported that it can survive for 8 years.[30]
As pets, most guinea pigs are artificially cultivated, not only the hair color has changed to other colors, but also the spotted guinea pigs, which are popular with pet lovers.[31]Because of its special biological characteristics, it has been widely used in various medical and biological research, such as pharmacy, infectious disease, immunology, nutrition, otology, etc., and some experimental research must use guinea pigs instead of other experimental animals.[32]Guinea pigs are a traditional delicacy in Indian mountains.On《last supper》In this picture, the dinner table of Jesus and believers is not a traditional western food, but a plate of roasted guinea pigs.[33]
In 5000 BC, the Andes region of South America (todayEcuador、PeruAnd Bolivia) first raised domesticated guinea pigs as a food source.Guinea pig statues belonging to the period from about 500 BC to 500 AD have been unearthed in Peru and Bolivia. The Moche people of ancient Peru not only worship animals, but also often describe guinea pigs in their artistic works.From about 1200 AD to 1532 AD, when the Spanish invaded, people selectively bred domestic guinea pigs, laying the foundation for modern artificial breeding of guinea pigs.Guinea pigs continue to be the food source in this area. Most families in the Andean highlands raise this animal, which feeds on the leftover vegetable leaves of its owner.The Andean folk culture is rich in content, of which the guinea pig is an important symbol.People exchange them as gifts. They are important items in social activities and religious places. Even guinea pigs are often mentioned in daily mantras.Guinea pigs are also important to folk witch doctors, who use these animals to diagnose diseases such as jaundicerheumatismArthritis and typhus.Witch doctors use guinea pigs to rub on the patient's body and regard them as the medium of channeling.Black guinea pigs are especially regarded as an effective diagnostic tool.Guinea pigs were also dissected and their viscera were taken out to test the therapeutic effect.This method is widely used by many tribes in the Andes region, where people can neither obtain nor trust western medicine and western medicine.
After Spanish, Dutch and British businessmen brought guinea pigs to Europe, this animal quickly became a fashionable pet of the upper class and the royal family, and even Queen Elizabeth kept guinea pigs.The earliest written records of guinea pigs can be traced back to 1547 ADSanto Domingo, because guinea pigs are notHispaniolaThis animal was probably brought by Spanish tourists.The first record of guinea pigs in the western world was made in 1554 by a Swiss naturalistConrad Gessner Hands.This two word scientific name was first adopted by Oxleben in 1777 and is a combination of its zoological species and genus names.[9]
The guinea pig got its name because its feet looked like dolphins,Also known as Guinea pig, Dutch pig, sea pig and guinea pig.[14][17]
morphological character
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The guinea pig is a mammal of the genus Guinea pig in the rodent Guinea pig family,The body shape of rodents is larger, with a weight of 700-1200 grams (1.5-2.5 pounds) and a length of 20-25 cm (8-10 inches).Short in stature but strong and powerful, with a large head, which is one third of the body;Short neck, round ears, no tail, short limbs;The eyes are large and round, the ears are short and close to the head, the hair is coarse and easy to fall off, and there is no tail.The guinea pig spine consists of 36 vertebrae, including 7 cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, 6 lumbar vertebrae, 4 shoulder vertebrae, and 6 tail vertebrae.13 pairs of ribs, including 6 pairs of true ribs, 3 pairs of false ribs and 4 pairs of floating ribs.The forelimbs are straight and strong, usually with 4 toes, and each toe has sharp claws;There are three clawed toes on the hind legs, all of which are relatively long.Guinea pigs walk on the soles of their feet, and their feet follow the ground when they walk.
Guinea pigs have short incisors,MolarsIt is prismatic and always growing.Both sexes are similar except that they have specific glands.The whole body is covered with hair in black, white, gray, brown, chocolate, etc., as well as various stripes,The fur is tight and shiny.[5][16]
Distinction of recent species
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guinea pig
Muskrat
Nutria
The body shape is larger in rodents, with a weight of 700~1200g and a body length of 20~25cm.
Muskrat is large, 266 (220-300) mm long, and 62.7 (60.2-67.3) mm long;Weighing 707 (454-1100) g, it is the largest species of Microtus subfamily.
The nutria is a large rodent, with a body length of 430~635 mm, a tail length of 225~425 mm, a weight of 5~10 kg, and a large weight of 17 kg.
The whole body is covered with hair in black, white, gray, brown, chocolate, etc., as well as various stripes,The fur is tight and shiny.
Its fur looks like an otter.The back hair is brown or brown yellow.In the sunlight, it has golden luster.
The four feet are black, the back is black, the side of the body is orange, and the abdomen is khaki.
Like dry and clean living environment.
It lives on land and can swim and dive in water. It is a semi aquatic animal.
The nutria is a plant animal adapted to the amphibious living environment, and its diet is extensive.
guinea pig
Muskrat
Nutria
Habitat environment
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Before extinction, guinea pigs lived on rocky slopes, grasslands, forest margins and marshes. They were very adaptable and could survive in various environments.For example, they can live in a wide range of elevations, from sea level to 4000 meters.Although studies have shown that they cannot survive in extremely hot or cold environments, guinea pigs can withstand a wide range of temperatures from 22 ˚ C in the daytime to - 7 ˚ C at night.Today, guinea pigs no longer exist in their wild native grassland habitat.[3][6]
Guinea pigs often form a small group of 5 to 10, live in caves and at night. They feed on plant food, have no special requirements on food, and are strong and not easy to get sick.It mainly eats the green part of plantsTimothy Hay /Alfalfa grass/Oat grass/Barley grass/wheat grass, etc.) is the staple food, and green grass, vegetable leaves and other plants like to eat.They like to eat fresh fruits and vegetables such as green peppers, lettuce, and cherry tomatoes. However, they should not overfeed fruits and vegetables that contain too much water, which is likely to cause diarrhea in guinea pigsCruciferaeAnd starchy things.In winter, corn stalks, wheat stalks, rice straw, peanut seedlings, etc. can be crushed and added with bran to meet their growth needs.Guinea pigs have a large appetite and a strong appetite for the feed they are used to, but they are particularly sensitive to the deteriorated feed, often reducing or abandoning food, or even causing miscarriage.
Guinea pigs have the habit of catching people, do not like climbing and jumping, and prefer a dry and clean living environment.Their activities, rest and food intake are mostly collective behaviors. They lie next to each other when resting, and foot ulcers are prone to occur when feeding in a single cage.There are autocratic social behaviors in the group. One or two male rats are in the dominant position, and the group with one male and many females has obvious stability.[1]
Guinea pigs are alert, lively, fat and cute, and love to eat, sleep and breed.She is timid, alert, easily startled, mild in nature, sometimes makes squeaky screams, has a well-developed sense of smell and hearing, and is extremely sensitive to various stimuli, such as sound, smell, and sudden changes in temperature. Therefore, pneumonia is prone to occur in the turbid air and cold environment, causing abortion, and miscarriage when frightened;It is also extremely sensitive to antibiotics and some toxic substances, and it is easy to cause enteritis after administration. If penicillin is used, no matter how large the dose and the way, it can cause enteritis and colitis, or even death.Sensitivity ratio to penicillinmiceIt is 1000 times higher, so special care should be taken when treating with penicillin.
Guinea pigs have well-developed masticatory muscles and very thin stomach wall. The cecum is particularly enlarged, accounting for about one-third of the volume of the abdominal cavity. The crude fiber requirement is more than that of rabbits, but it is not as prone to diarrhea as rabbits.AndRatIn contrast to mice, they eat less and move less at night.[6-7][19]
Distribution range
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Guinea pigs originated in South America, and were introduced into Europe as a game animal in the 16th century，It is distributed from Colombia to Guyana in South America.[18-19]
Wild species no longer exist.It is distributed globally as a pet, laboratory animal and meat animal.[3]
guinea pig
Reproductive mode
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guinea pig
Natural reproduction
Guinea pigs have a high reproductive rate, strong disease resistance, and early sexual maturity,Sexual cycleShort, generally about 16 days, belongs to late adult animals, that is, the pregnant period of female rats is longer60-65 days, 4-8 babies per child, 6 times per year during mating.The embryo is fully developed in the maternal body. After birth, it has fully grown. The whole body is covered with hair, eyes open, ears erect, and has permanent teeth. One hour after birth, it can walk on its feet, and eat soft feed for several hours. Two to three days later, it can suck breast milk while eating green feed or mixed feed under the care of the mother mouse, and grow rapidly.The pups are mature in 35 days, and a pair of guinea pigs can reproduce 80 pairs in a year.Their pregnancy time is relatively long in rodents, about 50 to 75 days.[8][19]
Guinea pigs are year-round, multi oestrus animals, and have a postpartum sexual cycle. Under normal circumstances, they show a round trip cycle of the birth cycle throughout the year.Pregnancy may occur within 48 hours or at some time during lactation, which is called postpartum period or abnormal pregnancy.
The average life span of guinea pigs is between 4 and 5 years,Life span is closely related to variety nutrition and breeding environment. It has been reported that it can survive for 8 years.According to the Guinness Book of Records in 2006, the oldest guinea pig survived for 14 years and 10 months.[5][20]
Artificial breeding
Cage cushion
The feeding box should establish a clean and sanitary system. Generally, the bedding should be changed twice a week, the tableware should be washed once a week, and the indoor should be disinfected regularly.
Guinea pigs have good hearing, are timid and easily frightened, so the environment should be quiet, the noise should be below 50 decibels, and the optimal temperature is 20-24 ℃.The required control range is 18~26 ℃.When the temperature is higher than 30 ℃, guinea pigs lose weight, miscarry, stillbirth and have high mortality. When the temperature is lower than 15 ℃, the reproduction rate, growth and development rate decrease, and the disease incidence rate increases.The humidity should be between 40% and 60%.If the temperature is too high or too low, guinea pigs' resistance will decline and they are prone to diseases.The ammonia concentration is below 20mg/L, and the gas flow speed is 10~25 cm/s.Ammonia concentration is closely related to the incidence of pneumonia in guinea pigs.Guinea pigs need a certain area of activity, and the area required during lactation is larger. Generally, 300 g guinea pigs need about 300 square centimeters of activity area, and 800 g guinea pigs need 1000 square centimeters of activity area.[7]
Feed drinking water
In order to keep the feeding box dry, it is recommended to use a ball drinking fountain.The feeding bowl of guinea pigs should not be made of plastic or other materials that will be chewed. It should be made of ceramic or stainless steel, with a certain amount and not easily overturned.Feed once in the morning and once in the evening. Guinea pigs areNocturnal animalFeed more at night.
Note: Do not feed guinea pigs onions, onions, garlic, leeks, ginger, chocolate, coffee.Guinea pig paircelluloseDue to the large demand, we should pay attention to the low proportion of crude fiber in the feed, which is easy to cause serious depilation and mutual wool eating of guinea pigs.Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C themselves and must obtain it from feed. Guinea pigs weighing 100 grams must have 4 to 5 mg of vitamin C every day, while pregnant or lactating guinea pigs need 30 to 40 mg of vitamin C.Vitamin C is mainly supplied by feeding fresh and juicy green vegetables every day. In winter in the north, carrots and malt can be used instead.Using vitamin C in drinking water or adding trace elements, vitamins, essential amino acids in mixed pellet feed to replace green feed, the effect is also better.[7]
Standardize aquaculture
On September 30, 2020, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration released on its official website《Notice on Regulating the Scope of Classified Management of Fasting Wild Animals》For 19 kinds of wild animals such as guinea pigs, the Notice stipulates that breeding activities for edible purposes are prohibited, but breeding for non edible purposes such as medicine, display and scientific research is allowed.In addition, the Notice also requires the competent department of forest and grass for these 19 wild animals to work with relevant departments to formulate management measures and breeding technical specifications, strengthen policy guidance and services, strengthen daily supervision and management, and strictly implement the requirements related to epidemic prevention and quarantine.[11-12]
Subordinate classification
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According to the characteristics of the hair of guinea pigs, they can be divided into three varieties, namely short hair, long hair and hard hair.[15]
Protection status
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Protection level
Not included in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.[3]
Population status
Globally, as pets, and as food in South America.In addition, they are often used as the subject of biomedical research to investigate scurvy, tuberculosis, juvenile diabetes and pregnancy complications.Because of their domestication, guinea pigs will not suffer from natural predation.Guinea pigs are extinct in the wild and can only live in captivity.[2-3]
Key values
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edible
Guinea pigs are a traditional delicacy in Indian mountains.In the painting "The Last Supper", the table of Jesus and believers is not a traditional western food, but a plate of roasted guinea pigs.[23]
Economics
Black porcupineIt is a kind of herbivore with multiple uses. Its fur can be processed and used with good quality. It is one of the most valued herbivores. The guinea pig skin has the characteristics of bright color, luster, softness, lightness and warmth, and is suitable for making all kinds of clothes, hats, collars, etc.[10]
Research
Because of its special biological characteristics, it has been widely used in various medical and biological research, such as pharmacy, infectious disease, immunology, nutrition, otology, etc., and some experimental research must use guinea pigs instead of other experimental animals.[22]
other
As pets, most guinea pigs are artificially cultivated, not only the hair color has changed to other colors, but also the spotted guinea pigs, which are popular with pet lovers.[21]
