Pig Keychain Flashlight
Pig Keychain Flashlight
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 24679 Mini Pig 2 LEDs Flashlight keychain Assorted Color  US $.99
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 Mini Pig Keychain Flashlight Light Torch With 2 LED US $4.31
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 5x Flashlight 2-LED Mini Pig Piggy Flashlight Keychain lot US $3.50
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Ever since we were introduced to the guinea pig in about 1550, they have been known by this name. But if you think about it, it is an unusual choice of name, because they aren't pigs, and aren't native to Guinea in West Africa.
So where did the name 'guinea pig' come from? No one can be certain, but there are one or two possible explanations which seem to be the most likely. In this article we'll investigate them by looking at each part of the name separately.
Guinea pigs aren't related to pigs but they do have numerous similarities. Both animals are very round, with short legs and big heads. They also make similar noises - a guinea pig's squeak sounds a lot like a pig's oink. As well as this, they both have similar traits - in particular they both like to spend a lot of their day eating and sleeping!
It is likely that people saw these similarities, and hence used the term 'pig' as part of this new animal's name.
It is not so easy to explain the term 'guinea' in the name. After all, these creatures come from South America, several thousand miles from the Guinea, in Africa.
Around this time, it was common for people to refer to any exotic, foreign place as 'Guinea'. The name conjures up images of some mystical, distant place, and so anything with this phrase in its name also sounded exciting and new. The guinea pig probably got its name in the same way.
You might have heard people refer to these creatures by an entirely different name - the 'cavy'. This comes directly from the guinea pig's Latin name, 'Cavia porcellus', which can be translated as 'little pig rat'. Although most owners call their pets 'guinea pigs', some people prefer the term 'cavies'.
No matter which term you prefer, you should now have a better idea of where this gorgeous animal got its name.