Rodent

[Krysanthemum]

Hello everyone,

I remember reading a while ago on this forum that guinea pigs are not rodents. I mentioned this recently to my mum (who calls my piggies rodents all the time, she doesn't like them much but I don't live with her anymore so it doesn't matter), and she asked me what they were then? I can't remember the answer, so can someone please remind me what piggies actually are, if they're not part of the rodent family?

Thanks.

 

[John4216]

Last time I knew they were part of the rodent family. Cavia porcellus is a small domesticated rodent according to Websters anyway.

 

[RubyPiggie2]

I was told they weren't, rodents, but exotics. I'm confused. I dunno what I'm talking about.

 

[The Magic Taco]

Rodents are mammals aren't they? Otherwise the wild guinea pigs in Peru and the Andes and stuff are either mammals or rodents...... I can't explain things very clear so try and decipher that....

 

[daftscotslass]

Yes, all guinea pigs are mammals and rodents. Here's how the official classification goes (follow it down the way like a family tree):

Kingdom: Animalia
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Phylum: Chordata
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Subphylum: Vertebrata (vertebrates)
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Class: Mammalia (mammals)
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Order: Rodentia (rodents)
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Suborder: (broken link removed)
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Family: Caviidae (cavies)
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Subfamily: (broken link removed)
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Genus: Cavia
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Species: porcellus

The term "exotics" is used loosely by vets to describe pretty much everything that is not a dog or a cat. It's not a scientific term. In fact, here in the UK, vets use the term exotics to describe domestic reptiles and amphibians which, I think, is slightly more accurate and less confusing.

 

[RubyPiggie2]

So they are rodents and mammals.. Okay.. I think that clarifies a few things.. For me, at least.

 

[littlebear]

Um I would think them as domesticated rodents. My dad always says though that they are rodents.

 

[daftscotslass]

Yes they are rodents, end of story. The same order (sort of like an extended family) of mammals as rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils etc. Whether they are domesticated or not has no difference, wild and domestic are classified together.

 

[littlebear]

Ya I can agree to that!

 

[Piglet]

Oh...I was told that they are currently classified as rodents but eople don't agree with this so are trying to change this *confused*

 

[daftscotslass]

I don't see why they don't agree. They look like rodents. They have rodent physiology. They would have to not only re-classify the domestic cavy, but also 20-odd other species of cavies, not to mention maras and capybaras, which are also closely related to guinea pigs. It's a ridiculous thought, and I doubt it will ever happen.

 

[Piglet]

Is it something to do with their diet? Is it different to other rodents?

 

[daftscotslass]

Different species have different diets, that's not really anything to do with their classification as rodents. They are very diverse - theres about 3000 species of rodent. Rodents are defined as animals that a pair of enlarged incisor teeth on each jaw, that are specialised for gnawing. It comes from the latin word "rodere", meaning "to gnaw".