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Glite Dictionary
Cavia porcellus

Cavia porcellus

9.3
A small, furry pet often called a guinea pig that comes from South America
  • noun
  • /ˈkeɪviə pɔrˈsɛləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cavia porcellus
  • The domestic guinea pig, or Cavia porcellus, originated in the Andes of South America.

Examples

  • The laboratory used Cavia porcellus in several behavioral experiments.

  • I adopted a Cavia porcellus from the animal shelter.

  • Many children learn about mammals by caring for a Cavia porcellus in school.

  • The Cavia porcellus is known for its friendly nature.

  • Many children learn about mammals by caring for a Cavia porcellus in school.

  • The domestic guinea pig, or Cavia porcellus, originated in the Andes of South America.

  • I adopted a Cavia porcellus from the animal shelter.

Synonyms

guinea pig
vsCavia porcellus
15 2.3

A small, furry animal with short legs and almost no tail often kept as a pet

is the formal scientific name for that domestic pet and research rodent
cavy
vsCavia porcellus
1 9.4

A small South American rodent like a guinea pig

names the specific domestic species rather than the broader rodent group

Surface Forms

Cavia porcellus singular
Cavia porcelluses plural

Morphology

Cavia + porcellus

This is a Latin scientific binomial rather than a normal English compositional phrase: its meaning ('domestic guinea pig') depends on taxonomic/Ladin knowledge rather than standard English word-formation. The second constituent 'porcellus' is not attested in the provided dictionary entry and the naming convention is specialized, so a B1 learner who only knows the surface constituents would not reliably derive the common English referent.

Etymology

Cavia porcellus comes from Latin words Cavia and porcellus, and porcellus means 'little pig'. Early European explorers thought the animal looked and squeaked like a tiny pig, so this Latin name is used today for the domestic 'guinea pig'.