History of Guinea Pigs
The guinea pig has been domesticated for so long that it has been
awarded its own sub-specific scientific name of Cavia aperea procelus
which distinguishes it from the wild Peruvian
cavy, Cavia aperea tschudi,
from which it is descended. It was first domesticated, many centuries
ago, by the Indians of Peru and other surrounding South American
countries where it was kept as a household pet, Even today, the cavy is
kept by people in some of the more remote villages of the Andes, where
the animals are never confined but are allowed to wonder freely around
homes and grounds of the Indians.
 Guinea pigs were probably first introduced into Europe by the Spanish
Conquistadors during the 16th century, when they were quickly purchased
to be kept as household pets. Due to their scarcity in Europe at this
time, guinea pigs would have commanded high prices, such that they could
only be possessed by the nobility and wealthy families. Their popularity
spread from Spain throughout the continent and soon they were being
exported to other parts of the world.
The term 'guinea pig' is a misnomer, as the animal is neither a pig,
nor does it come from Guinea. This name probably arose from the fact
that ships returning from South Africa frequently called at the Guinea
Coast of West Africa on their way back to Europe and people seeing the
animals for the first time mistakenly believed that they had originated
from Guinea.
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