2006-09-24 05:05:22 · 6 answers · asked by Jacque L 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Maybe they were first discovered in New Guinea ? Guinea is also slang for an Italian, so I named my Guinea Pig 'Ziti'
I have no idea why they were named that, maybe look it up on the net for the history or origin of their name
2006-09-24 05:16:52 · answer #1 · answered by odafintutuola 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
considering that guinea pigs are not pigs and do not come from New Guinea! We'll never be 100-percent sure how these little guys got their name, but there are a couple of theories. Some believe the word "guinea" is a variation of Guyana, the place in South America where European explorers first discovered the animals. Others claim that these same explorers shipped the rodents back to Europe and sold them for one guinea. (That's a kind of old coin.)
And what about the PIG part? Supposedly, our clever explorers thought these cuddly companion animals looked like little pigs.
2006-09-24 13:19:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sailors that came to the New world though these creature the natives were eating were their idea of pig. They thought they had reached New Guinea. Hannis,the name. Guinea Pigs.
2006-09-24 06:03:16 · answer #3 · answered by whataboutme 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a million. All guinea pigs are pleasant, it truly is merely their nature 2. %. a short haired one 3. No discharge from everywhere, a sparkly coat, agency poos 4. No 5. no longer a lot....£2 for a huge bag of guinea pig foodstuff......grass is loose.......
2016-11-23 19:06:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a misconception that they originated from New Guinea.....maybe way back people thought they were from there, but they never were.
2006-09-24 06:01:42 · answer #5 · answered by justmemimi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_pig
2006-09-24 06:23:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋