How have Guinea Pigs changed on their Route to Domestication?

All modern-day domestic guinea pigs are derived from wild guinea pigs in Peru. Guinea pigs are from the Andes region of Peru, where they were first domesticated approximately 5000 to 7000 years ago. They were originally used as a food source and in religious ceremonies and were transported and traded all around South America for this purpose. Guinea pigs were first traded beyond South America into the Caribbean around AD500. Records of guinea pigs being traded into Europe did not occur until the late 1500’s by Spanish explorers. Their introduction into North America occurred in the 1800’s as part of the exotic pet trade.

In terms of taxonomy, original wild cavies were either cavia tschudii or cavia aperea. The current domestic cavy is cavia porcellus. Therefore, although domestic guinea pigs are part of the same genus as their wild relatives they are a different species. There are no domestic guinea pigs living in the wild.

Wild guinea pigs tend to be smaller in size, with grey fur. They live in hareems of one male with several females. Wild male guinea pigs do not tolerate living with each other very well and tend to be more aggressive than domestic guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are crepuscular, that is they are most active at dawn and dusk. This is less obvious amongst domestic guinea pigs. Wild guinea pigs are very aware of their surroundings. If they sense danger they freeze or dart. A group of guinea pigs may stampede to confuse a predator.

Domestic guinea pigs are generally larger than their wild relatives and come in an array of colours and coat types. They often have larger litters than wild guinea pigs. Greater courtship behaviour and social grooming occurs in domestic guinea pigs and all male groups can be well tolerated. In fact a variety of group dynamics can be achieved. Problem solving abilities have been documented in domestic guinea pigs, especially for a food reward!

In the wild guinea pigs live in grassy plains but can also be found in forested and rocky areas. They do not burrow or build nests but will shelter in abandoned burrows of other animals, in rocky crevices and tunnels formed by long vegetation. They have many natural predators so spend a lot of their time under cover.

This need to have cover has not evolved out of the current domestic guinea pig. The domestic guinea pig still exhibits many of the natural prey behaviours, including freezing, fleeing and hiding. Guinea pigs are naturally very timid and will spend a lot of their time hiding, even if no predator is around.

Pet guinea pig exploring home