Guinea Pigs By Other Names?

Why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs? Is it perhaps because it originated in New Guinea? Do they belong to the family of pig? The answer is 'no', and 'no' again. So if that's the case then why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs, then? There are several theories that attempt to address the weird name.

First, the origin of the Indies in the Guinea Pig. One theory postulates that the animals were brought to Europe by way of Guinea, so that people are led to believe that it originated there. Another theory is the word "pig" is actually derived from Guiana, an area in South America, although it remains unclear weather the misspelling intentional or simply a corruption of the original name. A third theory suggests that guinea pig is so called because originally they were sold in Britain, which reached a value of a Guinea. One of Guinea is an old British coin with a value of twenty shillings. Unfortunately, this theory is based on a common mistake, as the first guinea pig was described in 1554 by a Swiss naturalist Konrad Gesner called more than a century before the first coin of the Indies was tendered.

There are many theories like many in connection with the pig in the guinea pig for the origin of the Indies in guinea pigs. One theory suggests that pigs are named because of the noise as snort-guinea pigs when excited or happy. Another theory postulates that the pigs were appointed because of their resemblance to small pigs, or because of their eating habits. Whatever the reason, the English language is not the only one that refers to "pigginess". Scientists refer to as guinea pigs Cavia porcellus, porcellus and Latin for pig. In German, guinea pigs are called Meerschweinchen (which translates as little sea pigs). The origin of the name in German is probably because the guinea pigs were treasured as a readily available source of fresh meat and portable sailboats to travel long distances in the new world. Guinea pigs have a long history of serving as provisions. The Incas treasured guinea pigs as a food source but also the mass killing as ritual offerings to the gods. Russian and Polish names for guinea pigs are similar to German and Morska winka svinka Morskaya, respectively, while the Dutch call them guinees biggetje (Guinea pigs). In the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark are called marsvin, combining the Latin for the ocean "mare" with svin, which means pig.

In some other languages, pork is combined with a name different geographic origin. In France, for example, the guinea pig is known as the Indian pig. In Greece and Portugal there is a similar reference to India or the Indies. Oddly, in Italy, the guinea pig, while still being mentioned as a pig or little pig is called the Indian or the guinea pig in Peru. But in fact the scale is rare in Spanish, which calls the bunny guinea pigs India. New Guinea or pigginess not in sight. However, a rabbit?

Unfortunately, we are no closer to decipher the name of the Guinea Pig. Worldwide, cultures disagree on their geographical origin, or in its pigginess.

No matter its name, however, at the end of the day, the guinea pig will always be a friend cute, furry.