Guinea pigs, or cavies as they're professionally known as, originated three thousand years ago from South America where today they still live wildly. There they live in the grasslands, rocky areas and near forests. The Incas spent many years selectively breeding cavies and when the Spanish conquered the Incas they brought the domesticated cavy back to Europe. Their arrival in England did not come until around the 17^th Century, and the same guinea pigs are still with us today as much loved pets. They show similar behaviour to that of their ancestors. They are timid, very alert and are ready to react in case of danger.

Family
The guinea pig's related family includes the American Beaver, Crested Porcupine, the Common Dormouse and the South American Capybara which looks just like a giant guinea pig!

However, the guinea pig's largest ancestor is the Phoberomys Pattersoni which measured a staggering 3 metres long and a metre high - over ten times the size of rodents today. Nicknamed the Guinea Zilla, it lived in South America millions of years ago and unfortunately for us guinea pig lovers does not now exist.