They are quite fascinating animals who have not always been domesticated as they are today, so just where do they come from and how did they get that strange name?

Well, guinea pigs are technically known as Cavies, and they are a part of what we know of as the rodent family.

These delightful animals have been around for millions of years, and we know this because of fossilised remains that have been uncovered and it is only relatively recently that they have become a family pet.

They used to be much larger than they are today, and again, going back to those fossils, it has been found that they averaged 9 feet in lenght! Thats some guinea pig!

The first people to domesticate the guinea pig were the Incas, and South America is where they were first discovered. They were, and still are revered as both an Icon, and a source of food, in many South American countries.

Ever thought a rodent would be considered to have healing powers? Well in some parts of Peru they believe this and they think that the guinea pig can aid the transition from this life to the next. Now that is quite something!

The guinea pig first arrived in Europe and America as a result of sailors bringing them there to sell for one guinea, and this is how they got their name.

The second part of their name, pig, comes from their likeness, at the rear end, to pigs, and also to the fact that they tend to squeal a bit like pigs.

Not only of course have they been used as pets, but they have also contributed quite a lot to research and you have no doubt used the expression yourself "I am being treated as a guinea pig"

Medical science has benefited greatly from the use of guinea pigs in their laboratories but of course although they have saved many a human life, the cost in the lives of the guinea pigs has been high.

Even today they are still used for research but in a more humane way which we are told does not cause any distress to the animal.

In the South American country of Peru guinea pigs are held in such esteem that they often are given as gifts to people, and they are involved in ceremonial occasions.

You may be surprised to learn that a rodent could be so well loved, but a recent survey placed guinea pigs just behind dogs, cats and rabbits in the popular pet league.

So, next time your friends children drag you out to look at their pet guinea pig you will understand a little more about the attraction of these animals.