Where is the heart of a guinea pig? Advances of modern natural science
The capybara is common in the equatorial part of South America. She lives in forests along river banks. Unlike the above animals, this unusual rodent hunts for food both during the day and at night. This animal feeds on aquatic plants, grass and tree bark.
Pregnancy in a capybara lasts from 104 to 111 days, after which the female gives birth to 2 to 8 well-developed cubs.
Like the paca, in captivity capybaras very quickly become tame and affectionate. Due to intensive hunting, the number of these animals is declining.
Pacarana
For a long time, scientists did not suspect the existence of this animal. It was first seen in 1872 in one of the small towns in Peru, but even after that the animal was not mentioned anywhere for a long time, so it has not yet been sufficiently studied.
This animal belongs to the rodents, the Latin name of the pacarana is Dinomys branickii. The body length is approximately 70 cm. The pacarana also has a tail up to 20 cm long. The body of the rodent is covered with dark brown fur with white stripes on the sides.
The animal is distributed in the rocky areas of Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and inhabits rocky areas.
Pacarana
Pacarana feeds on fruits and green plants. Having found the fruit, the animal takes it with its two front paws. There are 2 babies born in a litter.
External and internal structure
The body structure of a guinea pig is very similar to the anatomical characteristics of most domestic animals, but there are a number of differences between them.
The guinea pig's body is cylindrical. The average body length of an adult rodent is approximately 20–22 cm. There are individuals reaching a length of 28 cm.
The guinea pig spine consists of 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 6 lumbar, 4 sacral and 7 caudal vertebrae. However, despite the presence of caudal vertebrae, they do not have a tail itself. Also, these rodents almost completely lack collarbones.
Brought from the South American continent, guinea pigs are one of the smallest varieties of domestic animals. In this regard, they are on par with rats, hamsters and chipmunks.
The male guinea pig is slightly heavier than the female. Its weight can vary from 700 to 1800 g. The weight of an adult female most often does not exceed 1200 g.
Guinea pigs have very short legs, with the front legs being much shorter than the back legs. The number of fingers with which the animal’s limbs are equipped varies. There are 4 toes on each front paw of a guinea pig, and 3 on each hind paw. In appearance, they resemble hooves.
Guinea pigs' fur grows at a rate of approximately 2–5 mm per week. The color and length of the coat may vary depending on the breed. There are individuals with both very short and very long, straight or wavy hair.
The face of a guinea pig is somewhat reminiscent of a pig's
In the area of the sacrum the animal has sebaceous glands, and in the skin folds between the genitals and the anus there are paranal glands. The latter secrete a specific secretion, due to which each animal has an individual smell. The secretion of males smells much stronger than that of females.
The head of a guinea pig is quite large. Her brain is also quite well developed.
The structure of a guinea pig's teeth is interesting. The replacement of baby teeth with molars occurs in the fetus even before birth, in the womb. In this case, the baby teeth are swallowed. By the time of birth, the embryo has a full set of teeth.
On each jaw of a guinea pig there are 2 incisors, 6 molars and 2 false molars. The surface of the molars is folded. These rodents have no fangs.
Of greatest interest are the incisors, which continue to grow throughout the animal's life. The average rate of tooth growth is approximately 1.5 mm per week. However, they grind down just as quickly, so they always remain approximately the same size.
Guinea pig incisors are covered with tooth enamel only on the outside. Due to this, the inner part of the incisors grinds down much faster than the outer part, which is why the sharp cutting edge of the incisors is formed. In order for the incisors to be constantly worn down, the guinea pig must regularly receive solid food. Under natural conditions, guinea pigs use their incisors to grind plant stems, hay, root vegetables and other roughage.
Guinea pig incisors
The lower jaw of a guinea pig can move freely in any direction. Thanks to this, food entering the oral cavity is quickly ground by the molars and enters the stomach.
The digestive system of guinea pigs is also of some interest. The length of the intestines in these animals significantly exceeds their size: it is more than 2 m. The length of the duodenum is approximately 12 cm, the small and ileal intestines are 12 cm, the thick intestines are 80 cm, and the caecum are 15 cm. Because of this, the digestive process can take a very long time. long, up to 7 days.
The animal's stomach is large, well developed and must be constantly filled with food. Its volume is 20–30 cm3. There, different types of food are arranged in layers. They can stay in the stomach from 1 to 7 hours. Then the food enters the intestines.
Because it can take up to a week for guinea pigs to digest their food, it is not recommended to suddenly change their diet. This can lead to disruption of the digestion process and even cause some kind of digestive tract disease.
An important digestive organ is the cecum. It produces soft feces that help break down cellulose, which is one of the main substances in the diet of guinea pigs. Young animals eat it directly from the mother's anus. This promotes the formation of similar flora in their intestines.
Table 1
Basic physiological data of a guinea pig
Guinea pig lungs consist of 4 lobes. When breathing, guinea pigs' lungs compress 130 times per minute. In the presence of external irritants, for example, heavy dust in the air, certain parts of the lungs may stop breathing.
The internal organs of guinea pigs, especially the lungs, are very susceptible to viral infections.
The heart of an adult weighs on average 2.1–2.5 g. It makes 250–350 beats per minute, which are mild in nature. The blood of a guinea pig contains 2% hemoglobin, 10 thousand leukocytes and 5 million red blood cells per 1 mm3. Experts conditionally divide the life cycle of a guinea pig into 4 periods. The first period begins at the moment of birth of the animal and lasts 21 days. Small animals do not leave the nest, feeding on their mother's milk.
Guinea pig has short legs
The average lifespan of guinea pigs is not always the maximum. Very often, with proper care, guinea pigs live 12–15 years.
By the end of the 2nd week of life, females develop nipples.
The second period begins on the 25th day from birth and can last 4–5 months. At this time, the little pigs are placed in cages, and they begin to feed on their own. The animals are growing quickly, and they already have noticeable secondary sexual characteristics. Animals begin to better coordinate their movements. After 3 months from birth, males become significantly larger than females.
Guinea pigs are non-conflict and contact animals that can be kept at home. They are unpretentious in food, easy to care for and are friendly and playful towards humans. This article will discuss the popular types of these tame rodents, the origin of their name and the basic facts that all owners of sea or, as they are also called, Guinea pigs should know.
Why is the guinea pig so named?
This creature has nothing in common with the sea. South America is considered the homeland of the Guinea pig. She became a seafarer after she arrived from afar in Europe. Many sailors kept these fast-growing rodents on their ships as a source of nutritious meat.
Important! The spine of a guinea pig is very weak and fragile, so you should not turn this animal over on its back or lift it high above the ground, as the rodent can twist out of your hands and injure its back if it falls.
It is called a pig because of its characteristic round body, almost completely absent neck, as well as the special grunting and squealing sounds that this animal makes depending on its mood. 
What types of guinea pigs are there?
There are not many breeds of these animals. They differ mainly in the length of their coat and color, which comes in five colors.
With long hair
There are several common breeds of guinea pigs with long hair:
Shorthair
They are most common because they do not require special care and get along well with children due to their flexible nature:
No wool
There are only two subspecies of hairless pigs, which arose as a result of long-term hybridization:
Answers to the most popular questions
The following points will give you an understanding of the physiological features and an understanding of the principles of keeping these animals.
Where do guinea pigs live in the wild?
The natural habitat of these rodents covers Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and the Amazon River basin. They live in rocky regions, where they choose small caves or crevices as their homes. Some subspecies dig extensive underground tunnels with deep burrows, which are then insulated with hay and reinforced with plant branches. 
Is it possible to keep one guinea pig?
The pack instincts of these animals are very strong. They need a leader and constant communication with their relatives. If you are not ready to devote a lot of time a day to your pet, then get two same-sex animals at once. Pigs living alone are more susceptible to depression and live several years less than pigs living in pairs.
Important! Females get along with each other better than males - keep this in mind when choosing an animal. Females do not have territorial claims, but males over 10 weeks of age will begin to conflict and fight for the cage allotted to them.
Is there a tail?
There are 7 vertebrae in a pig's skeleton, located where the tail would be. True, they are located so deep in the pelvis that they do not protrude above the surface of the skin in the form of a characteristic outgrowth, so there is no tail. 
What vision
These rodents have eyes on both sides of their heads; they can see everything that is happening around them without turning their heads. Pigs can also distinguish between four basic colors - red, blue, yellow and green.
How and how much do they sleep
The daily routine of these rodents differs little from that of rats: they are awake during the day and sleep several times a night for 10–15 minutes. During sleep, pigs hide in a nest built from sawdust and hay or bury themselves in the bedding.
Did you know? Guinea pigs first appeared in Europe after the first expedition of Christopher Columbus in 1493. The sailors took strange rodents with them, as they planned to eat their tasty and nutritious meat during the long journey.
During sleep, they keep their eyes open to instantly react to possible danger. These animals have very sensitive sleep, so when they wake up, they will not fall asleep again, but will drink, eat or play even in the dark. 
Can a guinea pig swim?
Rodents can swim from birth, but they do this extremely rarely, since their skin does not dry out for a long time, and during this time the animals can catch a cold. If you decide to give your pet a bath and fill it with water in a sink or basin, make sure that the water does not get into its ears or nose. After bathing, be sure to wrap your pet in a terry towel and take him to a warm room without drafts.
How long can he live without food?
The intestines of this animal are long, and food in it is poorly digested, so pigs must constantly eat something to make up for the lack of necessary substances.
Important! If you plan to be away for a long time, and you have no one to leave the animal with, install several full hanging drinkers for it and place a large container with dry feed. With such a supply, the animal can live independently for up to a week.
This animal can go without food for 3 days without any health consequences. He will lose significant weight, but will regain it within a week of eating normally. 
Longer periods of fasting lead to irreversible changes in the liver. Guinea pigs got their name as overseas animals, strange to Europe.
Did you know? Guinea pigs have an amazing ability to control pregnancy. If the female understands that there are no favorable conditions for the birth of babies, she will not allow the embryos to develop into full-fledged fetuses and will either carry them until the right moment or abort them at a time convenient for her. Embryos can remain frozen in the mother's womb for more than six months.
They quickly became popular pets and the subject of research by breeders. Different breeds of these rodents have been bred, which differ in coat type and color. At home, guinea pigs feel comfortable, and if there is enough food and communication, they will delight their owner for a long time with a cheerful and curious disposition.
Despite some similarities in the name, the guinea pig has nothing in common with the common pig, since this animal belongs to the rodent family. The guinea pig is classified as a rodent due to the characteristic bite of its incisors. However, many modern zoologists are of the opinion that guinea pigs should be combined into a new, separate subfamily.
Rock art of a guinea pig
The homeland of guinea pigs is Central and South America, and the history of the existence of these animals goes back 35–40 million years. It is believed that guinea pigs were domesticated in the 9th–3rd millennium BC. e. Perhaps animals themselves came to human homes in search of warmth. The Indians of pre-Columbian America first sacrificed them to the sun god, and later bred them as small livestock, eating the meat of the animals for food.
Even in those days, representatives of the guinea pig family had different colors. Animals with variegated brown or white colors were especially popular.
However, among guinea pigs there were completely or partially black animals. Researchers of Indian culture suggest that black animals were destroyed immediately after birth, since in the religion of the ancient Aztecs and Incas, black is a sign of evil.
The ancient Indians destroyed black guinea pigs, and currently this color is very popular among lovers of these animals.
Even before the existence of the Incan civilization, guinea pigs were bred throughout the Central Andes. The rodents were kept at home and fed with leftover food from the table. This is evidenced by drawings on vases and mummies of guinea pigs found during excavations.
Thus, during archaeological excavations of one of the camps north of the central part of the coast of Culebras I, (III-II millennium BC), scientists discovered special rooms for guinea pigs. They had stone-lined tunnels running between adjacent rooms. Numerous remains of guinea pigs and fish bones found there indicate that the rodents were most likely bred by fishermen who fed them with surplus fish.
The indigenous people of the Andes call the guinea pig "cui". Interestingly, they have many sayings associated with this animal. Thus, if they do not want to hire a worker because of his laziness or low qualifications, then they say about him that he cannot even be trusted to take care of the kui, implying that he is not capable of performing the simplest task.
The ancestor of domestic guinea pigs is the guinea pig Cavia aperea tschudi. It lives in the southern regions of Chile, located at altitudes from 1600 to 4200 m above sea level. This animal lives in underground burrows and is somewhat different in appearance and body structure from domestic guinea pigs. This is primarily due to nutritional conditions. Cavia aperea tschudi has a dark color (brown, gray, red) and long hair. A pig of this breed has a small light spot in the throat area. Wild guinea pigs live in groups of 5 to 15 animals, living in burrows and eating grass and greenery.
In 1592, the first guinea pigs were brought by the Spanish conquerors to Portugal and Spain, and a little later to the Netherlands and Great Britain. However, until the 17th century. The guinea pig was a rare animal in European countries. In addition, the animals were very expensive, so only very wealthy people could have them at home.
The guinea pig was first described in the scientific works of K. Gesner, who lived in the 16th century.
The ancient Peruvians valued guinea pigs not for their appearance and liveliness of character - they were exclusively interested in the gastronomic qualities of these animals.
Origin of the name
Like many other animals, the guinea pig has different names in different countries. So, in England this rodent is called Indian little pig, restless cavy, guinea pig and domestic cavy. And in the dialect of the indigenous people of South America, a guinea pig is called “cavy”.
As for the origin of the English name guinea pig, it is most likely explained by the way in which Europeans learned about the existence of this rodent. The British probably had more trade relations with the shores of Guinea than with South America, and therefore were accustomed to look at Guinea as part of India. Although there is another opinion: it is assumed that in Europe, as in its homeland, the guinea pig was originally used as food and sold in markets.
This explains the origin of the English name for the pig - guinea pig, i.e. “pig for a guinea” (the guinea was the main English gold coin until 1816, it received its name from the country of Guinea, where the gold necessary for its minting was mined). Some researchers attribute the origin of the name guinea pig to the fact that the word Guinea was used instead of the similar Guiana, since wild guinea pigs were exported from Guiana to Europe.
Residents of the Andes still raise guinea pigs on special farms and eat their meat.
The Spaniards living in America call this rodent a little rabbit, while other colonists continue to call it a little pig, that is, they use the name that was brought to Europe along with the animal. By the way, the guinea pig is called a small rabbit because before Europeans arrived in America, this rodent served as food for the indigenous Indians and all Spanish writers of that time referred to it as a rabbit.
There are more than 67 million domestic guinea pigs living on livestock farms in Peru. They produce more than 17,000 tons of nutritious meat per year. The Indians of the high Andes have been suppliers of guinea pig meat for centuries. It is highly valued in many countries and has a number of dietary and gastronomic qualities.
In France, the guinea pig is called cochon d'Inde - "Indian pig", and in Spain - Cochinillo das India - "Indian pig". The Italians and Portuguese also call this rodent the Indian pig - porcella da India and Porguinho da India - as do the Dutch, in whose language the animal is called Indiaamsoh varken. In Belgium, a guinea pig is called cochon des montagnes - “mountain pig”, and in Germany - Meerschweinchen, i.e. “guinea pig”.
Considering all of the above, we can make the assumption that the guinea pig spread in Europe from west to east, and the name that exists in Russia and Germany - “guinea pig” - most likely indicates that the pigs were brought from overseas (apparently , at first they were called overseas, and then sea).
Natural habitat
As already mentioned, the domestic guinea pig is descended from the wild guinea pig found in South America. The genus Cavia unites several very similar species of small rodents, known in Europe as guinea pigs, or guinea pigs, and in their homeland as aparea and gui. The genus Cavia also includes Cavia arerea from Brazil and Paraguay, Cavia tschudii and Cavia cutleri from the Andean valleys, Cavia nana from Bolivia and Cavia fulgida from the Amazon basin.
Wild guinea pigs differ from their domesticated relatives in their slimmer body and greater mobility. Wild rodents are colored black, brown, brown or gray. Most species dig holes, arranging shelters in the form of entire underground towns. Some build ground shelters from plants or use natural shelters such as rock crevices. The animals live in small colonies, each of which occupies its own territory and has a leader - an adult male.
Wild guinea pig
It is almost impossible to catch a flock of guinea pigs by surprise. These animals have well-developed hearing and sense of smell; they take turns resting and “keeping watch,” guarding their territory. As soon as an alarm signal is received from the “guard”, the animals immediately hide in shelters. An additional protection for guinea pigs from predators is their cleanliness. Animals, like cats, wash themselves and comb their fur several times a day. Because of this, a predator cannot find a wild pig by smell: the fur of these animals emits only a slight smell of hay.
According to research by the Peruvian archaeologist Lumbereras, Andean residents consumed guinea pig meat as food back in 5000 BC. e.
Although wild guinea pigs can tolerate temperatures up to 30°C for long periods of time, their natural environment is when temperatures range from 22°C during the day to 7°C at night. These animals cannot tolerate negative and high tropical temperatures, as well as direct sunlight. Animals adapt well to different altitudes: they can be found both in the lowlands (rain forests of the Amazon basin) and in the cold, barren highlands.
Wild guinea pigs feed on various parts of plants, from roots to seeds.
Despite the fact that the female has only two nipples, one litter usually has 3-5 babies, and often 8. Pregnancy in guinea pigs lasts about 2 months. The cubs are born well developed and sighted, they grow quickly and become sexually mature within 2–3 months. In natural habitats, guinea pigs usually have 2 litters per year, but in captivity these rodents give birth more often.
Guinea pig guards territory
Guinea pigs are able to feed themselves within a few hours after birth, so mother's milk is only a supplement, and not the main component of their diet. Animals get water from succulent feed.
A wild guinea pig can live up to 9 years, but its average lifespan is 3 years.
Guinea pig relatives
Relatives of the guinea pig include mara, moco, paca, agouti, and pacarana. Those interested in guinea pigs will be interested in learning more about these animals.
This animal belongs to the rodents of the semi-ungulate family. The Latin name for mara is Dolichotis patagona. It is much larger than a guinea pig: its length is approximately 70 cm, its weight is up to 12–16 kg.
Mara is distributed in South America, mainly in the rocky areas of Patagonia.
These animals live in small flocks (no more than 15 individuals), being active during the day when they jump across the pampas in search of food. They spend their nights hiding in holes. Their maras can dig themselves, or they can use those left by other animals.
In appearance, the mara more closely resembles a hare. The similarity is enhanced by a thick fur coat of brown-brown, gray-brown or gray color, a muzzle very similar to a hare, and large black eyes with thick eyelashes. The mara also has long and strong legs, and the ears, unlike the hare, are short.
Maras also live near populated areas: in this case, they go out in search of food at dusk.
Maras feed on plant foods. As a rule, it is also a source of moisture for them, so they do not need additional drink.
Maras practically do not move alone, and if they get separated from the flock, they form pairs. The cubs of these animals are born with strong legs and can run well almost immediately. This is very important, since it is thanks to this ability that maras escape from predators. In one mara litter, from 2 to 5 cubs can be born.
Mara with cub
J. Durrell, who managed to observe these interesting animals for some time, left an excellent description of the maras: “As we approached the sea, the landscape gradually changed; From flat, the area became slightly undulating, and here and there the wind, having torn off the top layer of soil, exposed yellow and rusty-red pebbles, large spots of which resembled sores on the furry skin of the earth. These deserted areas, apparently, were a favorite haunt of curious animals - the Patagonian hares, because on the sparkling pebbles we always found them in pairs, or even in small groups - three or four.
Marys are very shy animals. Scientists have found that severe fright can even cause their death. In this, maras are similar to guinea pigs, which are also quite nervous animals and often get scared when they find themselves in an unusual environment. This must be taken into account by anyone planning to breed guinea pigs.
They were strange creatures that looked like they had been put together in a very careless manner. They had blunt muzzles, very similar to those of a hare, small neat rabbit ears and small thin front legs. But their hind legs were large and muscular. What attracted them most was their eyes - large, black, shiny, with a dry fringe of eyelashes. Looking like miniature lions from Trafalgar Square, the hares lay on the pebbles, basking in the sun and looking at us with aristocratic arrogance. They let us get quite close, then suddenly their languid eyelashes languidly dropped down, and the hares with amazing speed found themselves in a sitting position. They turned their heads and, looking at us, rushed off to the flowing haze of the horizon in giant springy leaps. The black and white spots on their backsides looked like retreating targets.”
This animal also belongs to the family of semi-ungulates (Latin name – Kerodon rupestris). It is larger than the mara and looks like a guinea pig. Moko lives in South America, mainly in Brazil and in the rocky areas of Patagonia.
Moko is slightly larger than a guinea pig - their weight reaches 1 kg. These animals feed on plants and can go without water for a long time. Mokos mostly go out in search of food at night, preferring to sit in their shelter during the day. In search of food, the animal can easily climb tree trunks and even crawl along rocks.
For its ability to dig holes under rocks or hide from predators in rock crevices, the moko was nicknamed the rock pig.
Moko
In South America, moko meat is eaten: it is tasty and tender, like rabbit meat, and is considered a delicacy.
Agouti and paca
Paca and agouti belong to the Agoutiaceae family. These, like mokos, are also quite large animals.
Agouti (Latin name – Dasyprocta aguti) is distributed throughout most of South America. It mainly lives in evergreen forests growing in river valleys. However, agoutis can also be found in drier areas. In some areas of South America this animal is known as cutia.
Agouti
This animal is up to 50 cm long, with thick light fur with a golden, sometimes reddish tint. Due to this, agouti is often called the golden hare. This is a slender animal with a small, almost invisible tail. The agouti's hind legs are longer than the front legs and have 3 toes.
Agouti run, swim and even dive perfectly, which helps them escape from predators. They can also climb trees in search of food.
Agoutis feed mainly on leaves and fruits of trees, as well as plant roots.
Agoutis live in small flocks or pairs. In case of danger and during rest periods, animals hide in burrows, climb under stumps or into tree hollows. Agouti pregnancy lasts 40 days, after which the female gives birth to 2 cubs. Agoutis, like maras, are born sighted.
Agoutis are very shy and nervous animals. Despite this, they take root well in zoos. One more feature of them can be noted: having found any fruit of a tree or a nut, the agouti takes it with its front paws, brings it to its mouth and eats, unlike some other relatives of guinea pigs, whose front paws are less developed.
Locals hunt agouti because their meat, like moko meat, is very tasty and tender.
Agoutis are excellent jumpers. They are capable of jumping from a standstill to a distance of up to 6 m.
Paca (Latin name - Cuniculus race) is a rodent belonging to the agouti family. This species also lives in the tropical forests of the South American continent. In some areas it is known as "paw".
The paca is a fairly large animal, but smaller than the agouti. Its body length does not exceed 40 cm, weight is about 10 kg. The body of the pack is covered with not very thick reddish hair; on the sides there are longitudinal rows of specks and streaks. The tail is short, the hind legs have 5 toes. Quite long whiskers, which serve as an organ of touch, are clearly visible on the pack’s face.
Paka has an interesting feature not found in other mammals: the skull has a depression that acts as a resonator when the animal makes sounds. Because of this, Pak's cheeks always seem swollen.
Paka swims well and digs holes using well-developed legs with hoof-shaped claws and teeth. This mammal is nocturnal and feeds on fallen fruits (preferring fruits from trees of the fig family), and also digs up the ground in search of edible roots.
Unlike the animals described above, pacas do not gather in packs and rarely form pairs, preferring to search for food alone and hide from enemies.
The meat of these animals is highly valued among the local population, so the pack is often hunted. As a rule, the hunter comes with a dog, which finds the pack's hole and drives the animal out. Paka usually runs to the river to swim across it; the hunter waits for the game, sitting in a boat not far from the shore. Sometimes, to make the pack easier to detect, the hunter takes with him a bright flashlight, the light of which is reflected in the large dark eyes of the animal.
The paca population is somewhat smaller than the agouti population, but still quite large - in some areas up to a thousand individuals per 1 km 2. Therefore, intensive hunting does not lead to a significant reduction in their numbers.
Puckas are sometimes bred as pets. Under natural conditions, this is a rather aggressive animal, which, when defending itself, can strongly bite the enemy, but in captivity it quickly gets used to the owner and becomes tame and even affectionate.
Local residents have long used pak cutters as a tool for various works, in particular for hollowing out the bore of a blowpipe for hunting.
Capybara
This animal belongs to the rodent family of capybaras, or capybaras. Its Latin name is Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris.
The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Its body length is 1.25 m, weight can reach 50 kg. The body is covered with coarse bristly hair of brown color with a reddish tint. The ears are short, the muzzle is blunt. The limbs are quite long and well developed, but the capybara runs poorly, but swims and dives well, since its fingers are equipped with membranes.
An excellent description of the capybara was given by J. Darrell in the book “The Hounds of Bafut”: “...capybaras are notable for the fact that they are the largest rodents on Earth. What this means can only be understood by comparing them with some of their smaller relatives. An adult capybara reaches four feet in length, stands two feet tall, and weighs up to over one hundred pounds. After all, this is just a hulk next to a tiny mouse, which is only four and a half inches from tail to tip of nose, and weighs about one-sixth of an ounce!
Capybara
This giant rodent is a fat animal with an elongated body covered with hard, shaggy, variegated brown fur. The capybara's front legs are longer than its hind legs, its massive rump has no tail, and therefore it always looks as if it is about to sit down. She has large paws with wide webbed toes, and the claws on her front paws are short and blunt, remarkably reminiscent of miniature hooves. She has a very aristocratic appearance: her flat, wide head and blunt, almost square muzzle have a benign and patronizing expression, giving her a resemblance to a brooding lion. On land, the capybara moves with a characteristic shuffling gait or waddles at a gallop, but in the water it swims and dives with amazing ease and agility. The capybara is a phlegmatic, good-natured vegetarian, armed with hefty bright orange incisors, sharp and wide, like a penknife, devoid of the bright individual features inherent in some of its relatives, but this deficiency is compensated by its calm and friendly disposition.
Among the local population, the capybara is also known as poncho, chiguire, corpincho caprincho or capigua.
Despite the inability to run quickly when frightened by something (and the animal’s main enemies are jaguars), the capybara is capable of making several sharp jumps, thanks to which it often manages to reach water and escape. But she doesn’t feel safe in the water either: alligators can attack her there.
The capybara is common in the equatorial part of South America. She lives in forests along river banks. Unlike the above animals, this unusual rodent hunts for food both during the day and at night. This animal feeds on aquatic plants, grass and tree bark.
Pregnancy in a capybara lasts from 104 to 111 days, after which the female gives birth to 2 to 8 well-developed cubs.
Like the paca, in captivity capybaras very quickly become tame and affectionate. Due to intensive hunting, the number of these animals is declining.
Pacarana
For a long time, scientists did not suspect the existence of this animal. It was first seen in 1872 in one of the small towns in Peru, but even after that the animal was not mentioned anywhere for a long time, so it has not yet been sufficiently studied.
This animal belongs to the rodents, the Latin name of the pacarana is Dinomys branickii. The body length is approximately 70 cm. The pacarana also has a tail up to 20 cm long. The body of the rodent is covered with dark brown fur with white stripes on the sides.
The animal is distributed in the rocky areas of Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and inhabits rocky areas.
Pacarana
Pacarana feeds on fruits and green plants. Having found the fruit, the animal takes it with its two front paws. There are 2 babies born in a litter.
External and internal structure
The body structure of a guinea pig is very similar to the anatomical characteristics of most domestic animals, but there are a number of differences between them.
The guinea pig's body is cylindrical. The average body length of an adult rodent is approximately 20–22 cm. There are individuals reaching a length of 28 cm.
The guinea pig spine consists of 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 6 lumbar, 4 sacral and 7 caudal vertebrae. However, despite the presence of caudal vertebrae, they do not have a tail itself. Also, these rodents almost completely lack collarbones.
Brought from the South American continent, guinea pigs are one of the smallest varieties of domestic animals. In this regard, they are on par with rats, hamsters and chipmunks.
The male guinea pig is slightly heavier than the female. Its weight can vary from 700 to 1800 g. The weight of an adult female most often does not exceed 1200 g.
Guinea pigs have very short legs, with the front legs being much shorter than the back legs. The number of fingers with which the animal’s limbs are equipped varies. There are 4 toes on each front paw of a guinea pig, and 3 on each hind paw. In appearance, they resemble hooves.
Guinea pigs' fur grows at a rate of approximately 2–5 mm per week. The color and length of the coat may vary depending on the breed. There are individuals with both very short and very long, straight or wavy hair.
The face of a guinea pig is somewhat reminiscent of a pig's
In the area of the sacrum the animal has sebaceous glands, and in the skin folds between the genitals and the anus there are paranal glands. The latter secrete a specific secretion, due to which each animal has an individual smell. The secretion of males smells much stronger than that of females.
The head of a guinea pig is quite large. Her brain is also quite well developed.
The structure of a guinea pig's teeth is interesting. The replacement of baby teeth with molars occurs in the fetus even before birth, in the womb. In this case, the baby teeth are swallowed. By the time of birth, the embryo has a full set of teeth.
On each jaw of a guinea pig there are 2 incisors, 6 molars and 2 false molars. The surface of the molars is folded. These rodents have no fangs.
Of greatest interest are the incisors, which continue to grow throughout the animal's life. The average rate of tooth growth is approximately 1.5 mm per week. However, they grind down just as quickly, so they always remain approximately the same size.
Guinea pig incisors are covered with tooth enamel only on the outside. Due to this, the inner part of the incisors grinds down much faster than the outer part, which is why the sharp cutting edge of the incisors is formed. In order for the incisors to be constantly worn down, the guinea pig must regularly receive solid food. Under natural conditions, guinea pigs use their incisors to grind plant stems, hay, root vegetables and other roughage.
Guinea pig incisors
The lower jaw of a guinea pig can move freely in any direction. Thanks to this, food entering the oral cavity is quickly ground by the molars and enters the stomach.
The digestive system of guinea pigs is also of some interest. The length of the intestines in these animals significantly exceeds their size: it is more than 2 m. The length of the duodenum is approximately 12 cm, the small and ileal intestines are 12 cm, the thick intestines are 80 cm, and the caecum are 15 cm. Because of this, the digestive process can take a very long time. long, up to 7 days.
The animal's stomach is large, well developed and must be constantly filled with food. Its volume is 20–30 cm3. There, different types of food are arranged in layers. They can stay in the stomach from 1 to 7 hours. Then the food enters the intestines.
Because it can take up to a week for guinea pigs to digest their food, it is not recommended to suddenly change their diet. This can lead to disruption of the digestion process and even cause some kind of digestive tract disease.
An important digestive organ is the cecum. It produces soft feces that help break down cellulose, which is one of the main substances in the diet of guinea pigs. Young animals eat it directly from the mother's anus. This promotes the formation of similar flora in their intestines.
Table 1
Basic physiological data of a guinea pig
Guinea pig lungs consist of 4 lobes. When breathing, guinea pigs' lungs compress 130 times per minute. In the presence of external irritants, for example, heavy dust in the air, certain parts of the lungs may stop breathing.
The internal organs of guinea pigs, especially the lungs, are very susceptible to viral infections.
The heart of an adult weighs on average 2.1–2.5 g. It makes 250–350 beats per minute, which are mild in nature. The blood of a guinea pig contains 2% hemoglobin, 10 thousand leukocytes and 5 million red blood cells per 1 mm3. Experts conditionally divide the life cycle of a guinea pig into 4 periods. The first period begins at the moment of birth of the animal and lasts 21 days. Small animals do not leave the nest, feeding on their mother's milk.
Guinea pig has short legs
The average lifespan of guinea pigs is not always the maximum. Very often, with proper care, guinea pigs live 12–15 years.
By the end of the 2nd week of life, females develop nipples.
The second period begins on the 25th day from birth and can last 4–5 months. At this time, the little pigs are placed in cages, and they begin to feed on their own. The animals are growing quickly, and they already have noticeable secondary sexual characteristics. Animals begin to better coordinate their movements. After 3 months from birth, males become significantly larger than females.
The third period is one of the most important in the life of a pig. At the 6th month, the animal reaches its maximum size, the development of its genital organs is completed, and the animal becomes capable of reproductive activity for 40 months. At this time, the pigs' fur is finally formed, and their teeth become white.
The relationship between the age and body size of the animal: a – newborn – 10 cm; b – 5 weeks – 19 cm; c – 5 months – 23 cm; g – adult guinea pig – 27 cm
The fourth period can begin in the 4th year of a guinea pig’s life and end in the 8th–10th. At this time, the animal’s reproductive and motor functions are gradually impaired. If a guinea pig has a litter in the 4th or 5th year of life, there is a high probability that it will be non-viable and small in number. In the 5th and 6th year of life, estrus in females becomes rare and irregular. By the 7th year, rodents' fur turns gray and thins, and their claws become curved. An old pig's teeth lose their whiteness and gradually begin to decay.
In the last year of life, the animal's muscles and internal organs atrophy.
Sense organs
The guinea pig has relatively small ears and eyes, but a well-developed central nervous system, which helps it quickly adapt to environmental conditions.
Guinea pigs have a well-developed sense of smell, but they use it mainly to communicate with other individuals during the mating season and to recognize their territory.
In the human inner ear there are two turns in which the auditory cells are located, and in the guinea pig there are four such turns. That is why the animal hears very well and can perceive sounds with a frequency of 33 Hz.
Both males and females use urine for marking. For example, males ready for mating mark their homes with urine, and females who are not in heat, along with hostile behavior, use scent to demonstrate to the male that they are not ready for mating.
If the number of guinea pigs in one place exceeds two, the animals recognize each other only by smell. Guinea pigs' sense of smell is approximately 1000 times stronger than that of humans. Thus, these rodents even detect odors that people do not perceive at all. For example, they can sense the presence of nitrobenzene in the air, even if its concentration is 1000 times weaker than required for a person to smell it.
There are many tactile hairs on the guinea pig's face. They allow rodents to navigate the terrain. Thanks to tactile hairs, animals are able to determine even in the dark whether a hole can be penetrated or not.
Guinea pigs recognize each other by smell
Unlike hearing and smell, the guinea pig's vision is not so well developed. However, due to the location of the eyes, animals are able to look both forward and to the sides without turning their heads, which is especially important for protection from their natural enemies in nature. According to scientific research, guinea pigs distinguish between the colors red, yellow, green and blue, which plays a role in choosing food.
When vision and smell do not help guinea pigs recognize food, they resort to the help of taste buds. It is known that rodents have a clear preference for food with a distinct sweetish taste. Salty and bitter foods are in much less demand among them, but there are exceptions. Some representatives of the species Cavia aperea tschudii happily eat foods that have been heat-treated, or food from the owner’s table. It is interesting that guinea pigs have individual taste preferences, that is, different individuals often prefer completely different foods as treats.
Unlike other rodents, the guinea pig is born with a well-developed brain. By the time of birth, the morphological development of the structure of the cerebral cortex ends.
Guinea pigs often communicate using sounds. Their repertoire is very rich: from muttering, which serves as an expression of satisfaction, cooing as a sign of recognition of their own and others, to clicking their teeth, which is a warning before the upcoming struggle for primacy among adult males.
Young guinea pigs produce a thin squeak with which they call their mother. Interestingly, nursing females respond to the calls of their young differently depending on the age of the babies. As they grow older, i.e., from about 2 weeks of life, adult guinea pigs respond less and less often to the calling squeak of the cubs, thus teaching their offspring to be independent. Adult guinea pigs sometimes make sounds that are easily understood by humans, such as squealing when scared.
A guinea pig can look both forward and to the sides without turning its head.
External and internal structure
The body structure of a guinea pig is very similar to the anatomical characteristics of most domestic animals, but there are a number of differences between them.
The guinea pig's body is cylindrical. The average body length of an adult rodent is approximately 20–22 cm. There are individuals reaching a length of 28 cm.
The guinea pig spine consists of 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 6 lumbar, 4 sacral and 7 caudal vertebrae. However, despite the presence of caudal vertebrae, they do not have a tail itself. Also, these rodents almost completely lack collarbones.
Brought from the South American continent, guinea pigs are one of the smallest varieties of domestic animals. In this regard, they are on par with rats, hamsters and chipmunks.
The male guinea pig is slightly heavier than the female. Its weight can vary from 700 to 1800 g. The weight of an adult female most often does not exceed 1200 g.
Guinea pigs have very short legs, with the front legs being much shorter than the back legs. The number of fingers with which the animal’s limbs are equipped varies. There are 4 toes on each front paw of a guinea pig, and 3 on each hind paw. In appearance, they resemble hooves.
Guinea pigs' fur grows at a rate of approximately 2–5 mm per week. The color and length of the coat may vary depending on the breed. There are individuals with both very short and very long, straight or wavy hair.
The face of a guinea pig is somewhat reminiscent of a pig's
In the area of the sacrum the animal has sebaceous glands, and in the skin folds between the genitals and the anus there are paranal glands. The latter secrete a specific secretion, due to which each animal has an individual smell. The secretion of males smells much stronger than that of females.
The head of a guinea pig is quite large. Her brain is also quite well developed.
The structure of a guinea pig's teeth is interesting. The replacement of baby teeth with molars occurs in the fetus even before birth, in the womb. In this case, the baby teeth are swallowed. By the time of birth, the embryo has a full set of teeth.
On each jaw of a guinea pig there are 2 incisors, 6 molars and 2 false molars. The surface of the molars is folded. These rodents have no fangs.
Of greatest interest are the incisors, which continue to grow throughout the animal's life. The average rate of tooth growth is approximately 1.5 mm per week. However, they grind down just as quickly, so they always remain approximately the same size.
Guinea pig incisors are covered with tooth enamel only on the outside. Due to this, the inner part of the incisors grinds down much faster than the outer part, which is why the sharp cutting edge of the incisors is formed. In order for the incisors to be constantly worn down, the guinea pig must regularly receive solid food. Under natural conditions, guinea pigs use their incisors to grind plant stems, hay, root vegetables and other roughage.
Guinea pig incisors
The lower jaw of a guinea pig can move freely in any direction. Thanks to this, food entering the oral cavity is quickly ground by the molars and enters the stomach.
The digestive system of guinea pigs is also of some interest. The length of the intestines in these animals significantly exceeds their size: it is more than 2 m. The length of the duodenum is approximately 12 cm, the small and ileal intestines are 12 cm, the thick intestines are 80 cm, and the caecum are 15 cm. Because of this, the digestive process can take a very long time. long, up to 7 days.
The animal's stomach is large, well developed and must be constantly filled with food. Its volume is 20–30 cm3. There, different types of food are arranged in layers. They can stay in the stomach from 1 to 7 hours. Then the food enters the intestines.
Because it can take up to a week for guinea pigs to digest their food, it is not recommended to suddenly change their diet. This can lead to disruption of the digestion process and even cause some kind of digestive tract disease.
An important digestive organ is the cecum. It produces soft feces that help break down cellulose, which is one of the main substances in the diet of guinea pigs. Young animals eat it directly from the mother's anus. This promotes the formation of similar flora in their intestines.
Table 1
Basic physiological data of a guinea pig
Guinea pig lungs consist of 4 lobes. When breathing, guinea pigs' lungs compress 130 times per minute. In the presence of external irritants, for example, heavy dust in the air, certain parts of the lungs may stop breathing.
The internal organs of guinea pigs, especially the lungs, are very susceptible to viral infections.
The heart of an adult weighs on average 2.1–2.5 g. It makes 250–350 beats per minute, which are mild in nature. The blood of a guinea pig contains 2% hemoglobin, 10 thousand leukocytes and 5 million red blood cells per 1 mm3. Experts conditionally divide the life cycle of a guinea pig into 4 periods. The first period begins at the moment of birth of the animal and lasts 21 days. Small animals do not leave the nest, feeding on their mother's milk.
Guinea pig has short legs
The average lifespan of guinea pigs is not always the maximum. Very often, with proper care, guinea pigs live 12–15 years.
By the end of the 2nd week of life, females develop nipples.
The second period begins on the 25th day from birth and can last 4–5 months. At this time, the little pigs are placed in cages, and they begin to feed on their own. The animals are growing quickly, and they already have noticeable secondary sexual characteristics. Animals begin to better coordinate their movements. After 3 months from birth, males become significantly larger than females.
The third period is one of the most important in the life of a pig. At the 6th month, the animal reaches its maximum size, the development of its genital organs is completed, and the animal becomes capable of reproductive activity for 40 months. At this time, the pigs' fur is finally formed, and their teeth become white.
The relationship between the age and body size of the animal: a – newborn – 10 cm; b – 5 weeks – 19 cm; c – 5 months – 23 cm; g – adult guinea pig – 27 cm
The fourth period can begin in the 4th year of a guinea pig’s life and end in the 8th–10th. At this time, the animal’s reproductive and motor functions are gradually impaired. If a guinea pig has a litter in the 4th or 5th year of life, there is a high probability that it will be non-viable and small in number. In the 5th and 6th year of life, estrus in females becomes rare and irregular. By the 7th year, rodents' fur turns gray and thins, and their claws become curved. An old pig's teeth lose their whiteness and gradually begin to decay.
In the last year of life, the animal's muscles and internal organs atrophy.
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Guinea pigs, called Cavia porcellus in Latin, belong to the pig family, which is part of the rodent order. Guinea pigs are quite well-fed creatures, they have a plump, dense body up to 25-35 centimeters long. Adult males, depending on the breed, weigh 800-1500 grams, females are slightly smaller - 600-1200 grams. Life expectancy with good maintenance is eight to ten years.
There are many breeds that differ in the length, color and texture of their coat. Therefore, all breeds are divided into several groups: short-haired smooth-haired (selfies, American Teddies, Abyssinians), long-haired wire-haired (Sheltie, Coronet, Peruvian), long-haired curly (Texel, Merino, alpaca) and hairless (Baldwin, Skinny).
Domestic guinea pigs have ten teeth on each jaw: two incisors, six molars and two false molars. The incisors, like those of other rodents, grow throughout the pig’s life, and quite quickly, therefore, in order to grind them down, the animal must always have a branch of a fruit tree in its cage. Otherwise, the teeth will grow so much that the pet will not be able to close its mouth normally, and the protruding incisors will injure the delicate gums.
The front legs of guinea pigs are noticeably shorter and thinner than the hind legs, and have four toes, while the hind legs have three. All fingers have long claws that also need to be rubbed off. In the wild, animals dig a lot, so their claws wear off on their own, but pets have to regularly trim them with special tweezers.
Most breeds of pigs do not have a tail; only in rare cases is a reduced, thickened appendage observed.
Females have only two nipples, which is surprising, since there are usually three or four babies in a litter.
Guinea pigs are very vulnerable and easily frightened animals. When frightened, the animals hide in holes or hide in a corner, so the cage must have a house or shelter. They endure stress so hard that they get sick due to nervousness. However, in good conditions they quickly adapt to external stimuli and stop being afraid.
The digestive system is typical of herbivores. The intestines are long, ten to twelve times the length of the body. The stomach is quite large and should always be filled with food, so you should feed your guinea pig regularly. The excretory system is also well developed - a healthy animal defecates ten to fifteen times a day.
Guinea pigs are especially susceptible to infectious diseases. However, if you provide your pet with a normal microclimate and add vitamins to its food, there will be no problems with its health. The main thing is to protect it from drafts, dampness and low temperatures. But guinea pigs, compared to other pets, are less likely to get helminitis.
Normal body temperature, depending on the breed, ranges from thirty-seven and five to thirty-nine and five degrees. An increase always indicates that the pet is sick. To measure the temperature, a thermometer lubricated with Vaseline is inserted into the anus one to two centimeters, first almost vertically, then horizontally.
Another feature of guinea pigs is their keen sense of smell and excellent hearing. They can smell food tens of meters away, so your pet will squeak every time you start cutting vegetables for soup. This is a normal reaction and you should definitely give him a small piece.
A pet's good hearing helps to establish friendly relations with the pig - talk to it as often as possible, and it will quickly get used to your voice and learn to answer you. The only thing these animals do not like is loud and harsh sounds; it is not recommended to keep them in a room where they usually watch TV and listen to music.
