Cavia porcellus, commonly known as the guinea pig, is a small, tailless rodent native to the Andes Mountains. They have a robust body, short limbs, and a variety of coat colors and patterns. Guinea pigs are social, living in groups, and communicate with a repertoire of vocalizations. They primarily feed on hay and vegetables.

Cavia porcellus, commonly known as the domestic guinea pig, originated in the Andes mountains of South America. This region includes parts of modern-day countries such as Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia.

In their native region, guinea pigs inhabit regions of grasslands and rocky areas in the Andes where they are adapted to cooler climates. The high-altitude environment is characterized by temperate conditions with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night.

Guinea pigs are herbivorous mammals that feed on grasses, seeds, and other vegetation. They play a role in their ecosystem as prey for larger predators and contribute to seed dispersal through their foraging habits. Although domesticated guinea pigs have adapted to various human environments, their wild ancestors thrived in open grasslands and scrublands where they could easily graze and hide from predators.