Guinea Pigs Have no External Tail

Wild guinea pigs (Cavia aperea and tschudii) originate in South America. Due to their great ability to adapt, they are found in a wide range of habitats. These include swamps, rocky areas, savannas, and the edges of forests.

From Colombia and Venezuela down to Brazil and northern Argentina, guinea pigs live in low to high terrains and dry to moist climates. They are active in the daytime, feeding on the local vegetation of grasses and the flesh of cacti.

These wild specimens have a dark, muddy-colored fur. Kept as pets by the native Indians of Peru, they were prized for their meat as well as their fur.

Guinea pigs, or cavies, are small mammals classified as rodents, a category which includes mice, gerbils, hamsters and domestic rats, among others. All mammals have a four-chambered heart, have hair, give birth to live young, and feed their babies withthough, are not as prolific as their rodent cousins.

In fact, comparatively, guinea pig offspring are few and far between. Another difference is that guinea pigs have no external tail. Like all rodents, guinea pigs have continually growing incisor teeth that are worn down from chewing.