Nobody really knows how the name guinea pigs came about coz we dont come from New Guinea (we are originally from South America) and we are in no way related to pigs, in fact we are rodents.
Our Latin name is Cavia Porcellus or cavies/cavys for short.
Mummy and her friends call us pigs or piggies.
It is thought that the Guinea may relate to the amount of money we cost when first brought to Europe, an English Guinea was a lot of money.
There has been speculation that we are called pigs because we squeak and squeal so the humans say weee prefer the term wheeking.
Mummy says we are known as pigs coz we eat like pigs hmmmmpppppphhhhhhhhhhhhh
wheeeeeeee so pleased you're doing this blog Agent F (our big bro xxxx)
ReplyDeletewow so much information!
Whee very impressed and want to hear more please Agent F :o)
Whee saw too that you had fan mail from a lovely young lady Merri, way to go Merri :o)
awww Agent F you must send her your pigtures whee have them all and whee look and sit and just say WOW THAT'S OUR BIG BRO xxxxx he's OUR HERO xxxxxxxxxx