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What the sources say

Guinea PigCavia porcellus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Guinea Pig profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 50 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Guinea Pig. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysIt is a stout little rodent
The source saysGuinea pigs, also called cavies, are stout little rodents
The page saysOne theory is that a guinea was the price of one in 16th century England. Another is that the name could reflect their squealing, and a third is that their meat is similar in taste to suckling pig
The source saysTheories include that one guinea was the cost of one in 16th century England; the name could reflect on the squealing sound the rodents make; or that their meat is similar in taste to suckling pig.
The page saysSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says pups are born with fur and their eyes open
The source saysGuinea pig pups are born with fur and their eyes open.Note: Fun Facts on the Cavia porcellus page

Source
02

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Guinea pig. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysA tailless rodent
The source saysGuinea pigs have no tails.Note: tagline; order Rodentia per the same page
The page sayssix main calls
The source saysGuinea pigs produce six main vocalizations: chutts, squeaks, whines, whistles, purrs and chirps.Note: tagline
The page saysDomestic: kept worldwide as pets and for meat, most likely descended from an Andean wild cavy
The source saysmost likely derived from the Andean montane guinea pig (Cavia tschudii)Note: habitat
The page sayskept worldwide as pets and for meat
The source saysare now globally distributed as pets and for their meat
The page saysHay, leafy greens, root vegetables and compressed plant pellets
The source saysguinea pigs eat a variety of root vegetables, leafy greens, hay, and nutritionally complete pelletsNote: diet
The page sayscompressed plant pellets
The source sayspellets that are made of compressed plant material
The page saysis a tailless rodent
The source saysGuinea pigs have no tails.
The page saysgenerally range from 20 to 25 centimetres long and weigh 700 to 1,100 grams
The source saysthese rodents range from 8-10 inches (20-25 centimeters) long and weigh between 25 and 39 ounces (700 and 1,100 grams)
The page saysmales tend to be larger than females
The source saysMale guinea pigs tend to be larger than females.
The page saysThey can live up to 8 years in human care, but an average life is 4 to 5 years
The source saysGuinea pigs can live up to 8 years in human care but live an average 4-5 years.
The page saysGuinea pigs make chutts, squeaks, whines, whistles, purrs and chirps
The source saysGuinea pigs produce six main vocalizations: chutts, squeaks, whines, whistles, purrs and chirps.
The page saysWhistles and chirps convey the presence of food and are used for long-distance communication
The source sayswhistles and chirps convey the presence of food and are used for long-distance communication
The page saysSqueals, squeaks and tweets indicate the presence of danger or injury
The source saysSqueals, squeaks and tweets indicate the presence of danger or injury.
The page saysA guinea pig has two defensive responses
The source saysThese rodents have two defensive responses: the immobility response and the scatter response.
The page saysWhen one animal senses danger, it goes completely still until the threat has passed
The source saysThe immobility response occurs when a single guinea pig perceives danger. During this response, the guinea pig becomes completely immobile until the threat has passed.
The page saysWhen a group senses a threat, the animals scatter and split up to confuse a predator
The source saysWhen the group perceives a threat, they scatter and split up to confuse a predator.
The page saysAt the National Zoo they eat root vegetables, leafy greens, hay and nutritionally complete pellets
The source saysAt the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, guinea pigs eat a variety of root vegetables, leafy greens, hay, and nutritionally complete pellets.
The page saysThe domestic guinea pig does not live in the wild
The source saysThe domesticated guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) does not live in the wild
The page saysIt is most likely derived from the Andean montane guinea pig, Cavia tschudii
The source saysmost likely derived from the Andean montane guinea pig (Cavia tschudii)
The page saysThe Smithsonian's National Zoo dates its first domestication to 5,000 B.C.
The source saysGuinea pigs were first domesticated in 5,000 B.C.
The page saysToday it is kept around the world as a pet and for its meat
The source saysare now globally distributed as pets and for their meat
The page saysThe Smithsonian's National Zoo says they are domesticated and not threatened or endangered
The source saysthey are domesticated and are not threatened or endangered
The page saysSix main vocalizations
The source saysGuinea pigs produce six main vocalizations
The page saysa rodent with six main calls, from chutts and purrs
The source saysGuinea pigs produce six main vocalizations: chutts, squeaks, whines, whistles, purrs and chirps.Note: vibe.reason, task #976
The page saysthe whistles and chirps that tell others where the food is
The source sayswhistles and chirps convey the presence of food and are used for long-distance communicationNote: vibe.reason, task #976

Source
03

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Cavia porcellus (Guinea pig). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysIUCN Red List Not EvaluatedNote: conservationStatus; the prefetch found no Red List assessment
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web lists the IUCN Red List status as Not Evaluated, and says the animal is no longer found in the wild
The source saysGuinea pigs are extinct in the wild and only live in captivity. IUCN Red List Not Evaluated
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web calls the young precocial, meaning relatively well developed when born
The source saysyoung precocial Close young are relatively well-developed when bornNote: ADW glossary entry for 'precocial' on the same page; the Parental Investment field reads 'precocial'
The page sayspups can usually survive on their own without extended maternal care. Mothers still nurse them for 14 to 21 days until weaning
The source sayspups can usually survive on their own without extended maternal care. Females nurse their young for a period of 14 to 21 days until weaning.
The page saysthe pellets fed to pet guinea pigs carry many of the vitamins and minerals, vitamin C among them, that guinea pigs require to stay healthy
The source saysFeed pellets contain compressed plant material (barley or alfalfa) and many of the vitamins and minerals (e.g., vitamin C) guinea pigs require to stay healthy.
The page saysguinea pigs are often used as subjects in biomedical research on scurvy
The source saysthey are often used as subjects in biomedical research investigating scurvy, tuberculosis, juvenile diabetes, and pregnancy complications.

Source
04

Elsbacher et al. 2025

Elsbacher et al. (2025). Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus) Welfare: Associations Between Husbandry Practices, Human–Animal Interactions, and Animal Behaviour. Animals.

The page saysa habit of popcorning
The source saysplay behaviour, like “popcorning” (locomotor play), were commonNote: tagline
The page saysPopcorning: playful jumps that researchers list among the signs of good welfare
The source says“Popcorning” (playful jumping) and engagement with toys and enrichment were strongly associatedNote: superpower; the welfare-sign half is claim 13
The page saysThat is a playful jump that scientists file under locomotor play
The source says“Popcorning” (playful jumping) and engagement with toys and enrichment were strongly associated
The page saysscientists file under locomotor play
The source saysplay behaviour, like “popcorning” (locomotor play)
The page saysIn an online survey of 1,181 German-speaking guinea pig caretakers
The source saysThrough an online survey among 1181 German-speaking guinea pig caretakers
The page saysIn the same survey, popcorning, friendly behaviour between animals and use of enrichment were more frequent when caretakers interacted positively with their animals and provided food enrichment more often
The source saysfriendly behaviours exchanged among animals and popcorning and use of enrichment were more frequent when caretakers interacted positively with their animals and provided food enrichment more often
The page saysThe study lists play like this among the signs of good welfare
The source saysSigns of good welfare, such as eating and resting peacefully next to conspecifics and play behaviour, like “popcorning” (locomotor play), were common.
The page says26.8% said they saw it at least daily
The source sayslocomotor play (“popcorning”, which was observed at least daily by 26.8% of caretakers)
The page saystags: rodent
The source saysprolonged chewing, which is essential for controlling the continuous growth of guinea pig teethNote: task #976; tag def: continuously growing incisors. SDZ also: 'stout little rodents'

Source
05

Spotorno et al. 2006

Spotorno et al. (2006). Ancient and modern steps during the domestication of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus L.). Journal of Zoology.

The page says15 adult wild cavies of C. tschudii averaged 295 grams, significantly smaller than 25 creole guinea pigs from Bolivia and Chile
The source saysThe mean weight and body length of 15 adult wild cavies (295±31 g, 242±8.3 mm) were significantly smaller than 25 creole guinea pigs from Bolivia and Chile (639±157 g
The page says25 creole guinea pigs from Bolivia and Chile, which averaged 639 grams
The source says25 creole guinea pigs from Bolivia and Chile (639±157 g, 287±23.7 mm, respectively)
The page saysTwo improved breeds were selected for size and meat, and one of them, Peru's Tamborada, averaged 1,241 grams
The source says25 improved ones from Peru (Tamborada breed, 1241±75.4 g, 317±12 mm)Note: the two improved breeds are Tamborada (Peru) and Auqui (Ecuador)
The page saysTwo improved breeds were selected for size and meat
The source saysproducing two improved guinea pigs selected for size and meat

Source
06

Valdez 2019

Valdez (2019). Inka sacrificial guinea pigs from Tambo Viejo, Peru. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.

The page saysEarly Spaniards reported that the Inkas periodically slaughtered hundreds of animals, and that guinea pigs were the most common sacrificial animals
The source saysEarly Spaniards reported that the Inkas periodically slaughtered hundreds of animals, guinea pigs being the most common sacrificial animals.
The page saysAt the Inka site of Tambo Viejo in Peru, several dozen sacrificed guinea pigs were found, some adorned with colourful string earrings and necklaces
The source saysRecent research conducted at the Inka site of Tambo Viejo, in the Acari Valley of the Peruvian south coast, encountered several dozens of sacrificed guinea pigs ... some of guinea pigs had been adorned with colorful strings that were placed as earrings as well with colorful necklaces

Source
07

NASA History

Animals in Space. NASA History.

The page saysIn 1961 the Soviet dog Chernushka was launched on Sputnik 9 with a dummy cosmonaut, some mice and a guinea pig
The source saysOn March 9, 1961, another Russian dog, Chernushka (“Blackie”) was launched on Sputnik 9 or Korabl Sputnik 4. Chernushka was accompanied into space with a dummy cosmonaut, some mice, and a guinea pig.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.