Cuy frito

This article is about the small rodent species. For the domestic pig breed, cuy frito Guinea hog.

Breeders tend to use the word cavy to describe the animal, while in scientific and laboratory contexts, it is far more commonly referred to by the common name guinea pig. In Western society, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a pet since its introduction to Europe and North America by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature, friendly responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them have made guinea pigs a continuing popular choice of household pet. Livestock breeds of the guinea pig play an important role in folk culture for many indigenous Andean peoples, especially as a food source. Biological experimentation on domestic guinea pigs has been carried out since the 17th century. Wild cavies are found on grassy plains and occupy an ecological niche similar to that of cattle. From about 1200 to the Spanish conquest in 1532, the indigenous peoples used selective breeding to develop many varieties of domestic guinea pigs, which formed the basis for some of the modern domestic breeds.

Spanish, Dutch, and English traders took guinea pigs to Europe, where they quickly became popular as exotic pets among the upper classes and royalty, including Queen Elizabeth I. The guinea pig was first described in the West in 1554 by the Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner. National Portrait Gallery in London, dated to 1580, which shows a girl in typical Elizabethan dress holding a tortoise-shell guinea pig in her hands. She is flanked by her two brothers, one of whom holds a pet bird. Male and female guinea pigs do not differ in appearance apart from general size. The position of the anus is very close to the genitals in both sexes. Sexing animals at a young age must be done by someone who has been trained in the differences.

Guinea pigs in a petting zoo. Guinea pigs can learn complex paths to food, and can accurately remember a learned path for months. Their strongest problem-solving strategy is motion. While guinea pigs can jump small obstacles, they cannot jump very high. Most of them are poor climbers, and are not particularly agile. Like many rodents, guinea pigs sometimes participate in social grooming, and they regularly self-groom.

A milky-white substance is secreted from their eyes and rubbed into the hair during the grooming process. They have well-developed senses of hearing, smell, and touch. Guinea pigs have developed a different biological rhythm from their wild counterparts, and have longer periods of activity followed by short periods of sleep in between. Although this cat has accepted these guinea pigs, the success of interspecies interaction depends on the individual animals.