by whom?
Tribes in the Andean region of South America
Guinea pig
The guinea pig was first domesticated as early as 5000 BC for food by tribes in the Andean region of South America (the present-day southern part of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia), some thousands of years after the domestication of the South American camelids.
where does the name guinea pig come from From Latin for "little pig"; derived from "cabiai", the animal's name in the language of the Galibi tribes once native to French Guiana what is their role in research and science? Italian biologists Marcello Malpighi and Carlo Fracassati conducted vivisections of this animal in their examinations of anatomic structures. have these animals been domesticated? Yes, domesticated animals generally live in cages, although some owners of large numbers of guinea pigs dedicate entire rooms to their pets. when were they domesticated for the first time? 5000 BC
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Guinea pig [SEP] History
The guinea pig was first domesticated as early as 5000 BC for food by tribes in the Andean region of South America (the present-day southern part of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia), some thousands of years after the domestication of the South American camelids. Statues dating from "circa" 500 BC to 500 AD that depict guinea pigs have been unearthed in archaeological digs in Peru and Ecuador. The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped animals and often depicted the guinea pig in their art. From about 1200 AD to the Spanish conquest in 1532, the indigenous peoples used selective breeding to develop many varieties of domestic guinea pigs, which formed the basis for some of the modern domestic breeds.