Guinea Pigs are mammals which belong to the rodent family having large incisor teeth that are continually growing necessitating gnawing to prevent the teeth from overgrowing. The word 'rodent' is derived from the latin word 'rodere' which means 'to gnaw'.
Guinea Pigs form the Family Caviidae which is broken down into different Genera and then Species. There are 8 species of guinea pigs but only one is widely kept as a pet.
Guinea Pigs have a compact body and no tail and are native to South America where they live in burrows in mountain and grassland areas.
Guinea Pig Species
A list of guinea pig species with common name, scientific name and alternative names.