ABSTRACT
The domesticated guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, has a long and rich history in laboratory research. This history is in part because the docile rodent shares many biobehavioral similarities with humans, such as the need for dietary vitamin C, sensitivity to respiratory disorders, obstetrical complications, and sensitivity to teratogens and stressors during early development. Although domesticated guinea pigs are thought to exist only in captivity, wild relatives such as Cavia aperea are abundant in South America. These wild relatives are less docile and more aggressive than their domesticated counterparts, but otherwise are behaviorally similar to the laboratory guinea pig. Key behavioral considerations for guinea pigs include awareness of their highly sensitive nature and neophobia, environmental planning that supports their complex social organization, and provisions for species-relevant enrichment.
