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The etymology of guinea pig is unknown and confusing.

Despite its name, guinea pigs are not from Guinea nor are in the pig family. They are native to the Andes Mountains in South America. They are believed to have been called pigs because their structure is similar to that of a pig's body. The guinea part of the name is even more confusing. There are three theories: one is that the guinea pigs were brought across the Atlantic Ocean to the island of Guinea then to Europe, another is that guinea was used because it is a word in the English language that means "far away land", and a third is that it was a variation of the word "Guiana", a region in South America (composed of Dutch Guiana [now Suriname], British Guiana [now Guyana], and French Guiana [still present]).
No one really knows how they got the 'guinea' part but they are called pigs because they make sounds like pigs.

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Wiki User

6y ago
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Wiki User

6y ago

because of their snout like noses
It is because its nose is long and at-once when we see guinea pigs they look like a small pig.Guinea pig eats their own poops.This may be the reason why Guinea pigs are called pigs.Also Guinea pig means small pig.So Guinea pig is a small miniature of pig though it is a rodent.

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Wiki User

12y ago

Actually Guinea Pigs do NOT come from New Guinea but might have been called Guinea because they may have cost 1 guinea during about the time of Queen Elizabeth (who actually owned several pet guinea pigs.) Which was about $1.80 a lot of money back then. They are THOUGHT to have been called pig because when roasted they looked like little pigs.

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Wiki User

11y ago

Because Guinea pigs are the most popular animal used in experiments.They have some charactes related to humans like rats.They are also easily available.So, a Guinea pig is the common term used for animals in genetic experiments.'Rats' are also used in experiments.

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Wiki User

15y ago

because scientists used to experiment on guinea pigs

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Wiki User

14y ago

The term "guinea pig" refers to an experimental subject.

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Ginger Fricke

Lvl 2
3y ago

They are called guinea pigs because they are.

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago

Hi

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
Ugh litterally

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Q: Why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs?
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