Glorious Guinea Pigs Trivia Quiz

Answer: 14

Guinea pigs have four toes on each of their front feet and three on each of their back feet. Some guinea pigs are born with an extra toe. It is sometimes called a 'Polydactyl' and can be removed by a vet.

Answer: False

Guinea pigs come from South America; more specifically, the Andes. They were first domesticated in around 2000 BC!

The origin of the name "guinea pig" is muddled, at best. One popular theory says that the name came for the price (one guinea) that a guinea pig originally cost in 17th century England, but that coin was first struck a decade after the first "ginny-pigs" were written about.

It could also refer to anywhere far away, which was colloquially referred to as "Guinea." Or, it could be a changed (mis)pronounciation of the Guiana region in South America, or even of the term "coney" (rabbit), which was used to refer to guinea pigs in a treaties on quadrupeds as "pig coneys."

Answer: Abyssinian

Rosettes are rose-shaped markings on skin and/or fur. Abyssinian (pure breed) guinea pigs generally have four rosettes around the rear end, two around the shoulders and four around their belly.

Answer: True

They can also be known as 'guinea pig', 'Cavia porcellus' and 'cavy'.

The 'Cavia' part of the nomenclature is Neo-Latin, which came from the word 'cabiai' from the native Galibi tribes of the French Guiana region of South America, and was the term used to name guinea pigs. The 'porcellus' portion of the binomial name means 'little pig.'

Answer: The cavy is blind

If a guinea pig is born albino, with a pure white coat and has red eyes and paper thin ears, there is a very high chance that the cavy is blind. This is usually due to being bred with parents where their history is unknown, and therefore could be carrying some of the 'lethal' genes.

Answer: Ecuador and Peru

The local people of Ecuador have been known to eat guinea pigs as their local delicacy. Although they say it is guinea pigs they eat, it is in fact cuy, which is slightly larger but similar breed which has a slight tail compared to guinea pigs.

Answer: False

The main natural food for guinea pigs in the wild is grass but, as a pet, cavies should have 24 hour access to fresh grass, hay or timothy hay, and grass when outside.

That said, it is important to offer your cavy dried pellets and fresh fruit and vegetables to replicate what they would eat in the wild (dried pellets often contain vitamin C).

Answer: Beetroot leaves

Guinea pigs can eat the main part of a beetroot, but should eat the leaves rarely as they can lead to the build up of toxins. They are best avoided as the high folic acid content of leaves also causes heart problems.

Other foods that should be avoided for your cavy are avocado, chives, coconut, garlic, hot peppers, leek, onion, potato, and rhubarb. This isn't an exhaustive list, but sticking to the staples for your guinea pig is the best choice.

Answer: True

Guinea pigs have an excellent sense of smell, partly because their eyesight is not very strong. Their sense of smell helps them to decipher whether something is edible or not.

Answer: White crested guinea pig

The 13 breed recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association include:
1. Abyssinian
2. Abyssinian Satin
3. American
4. American Satin
5. Coronet
6. Peruvian
7. Peruvian Satin
8. Silkie
9. Silkie Satin
10. Teddy
11. Teddy Satin
12. Texel
13. White crested