Types of Guinea Pigs
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ABYSSINIAN
Comical looking with longer fur that averages 2 inches in length and forms crest/rosettes* on the body. Rosettes start at a pinpoint and radiate out to form a full circle. Most “abbys” have five rosettes, but may have up to ten. |
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AMERICAN
The American, sometimes referred to as the "English" cavy, is the most common breed of guinea pig, as well as one of the oldest. The hair is short, smooth, straight, and sleek. It is found in a wide variety of colors and color combinations and has a Roman nose (wide and curving). Its body is medium length, and of about the same circumference from the shoulder back to the hip. |
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SILKY / SILKIE
Also know as “sheltie.” Long, soft, silky hair which grows 8 to 10 inches in length if uncut. Groom frequently to keep coat clean and un-matted. Babies resemble short hairs as the silky coat, although softer, is only slightly longer. |
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PERUVIAN
Long hair with rosettes. Usually three rosettes; one on each hip and one on the back. Hair grows backward from tail to head. Frequent grooming keeps the coat un-matted. Hair may grow to 20 inches, draping the ground and making bathing necessary. Periodic haircuts will keep your pig cleaner and happier. |
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TEDDY
The “teddy's” coat seems to stand out from the body. Hair is wiry, short and easy to care for. Non-matting, but due to wiry texture, dirt and shavings can be trapped and cause skin irritations. Regular brushing will keep the coat clean. |
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TEXEL
A long haired teddy with a coat identical to the teddy's. However, the texel's coat can grow to four inches in length. The coat should be brushed to prevent matting. |
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WHITE CRESTED
The White Crested has a short, smooth coat with a distinctive white, circular rosette on the top of its forehead. Except for the crest, there should be no other white spots on the animal. There are many color varieties, but cannot include Dalmatian, Himalayan, Dutch, Roan, or Tortoiseshell and White, or other varieties which have white hair elsewhere on the body. |
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CORONET
The Coronet is a longhaired breed with a single rosette on the top of the head. The hair from the rosette to the rump is long, without a part. It has a Roman nose. |
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Other Varieties
In addition to breeds, there are many color varieties of guinea pigs. The recognized colors include:
Self: Solid color; colors include black, white, red, beige, chocolate, cream, lilac, and blue
Dutch: Colored head with white blaze; front half of the body white and rear half of the body same color as the head
Brindle: Intermingling of two colors; one dark and one light color, appearing consistently over the body
Tortoiseshell: Well-defined rectangular patches of black and red, similar in size and distributed evenly and uniformly over the body without running together
Tortoiseshell & white: Well-defined rectangular patches of black, red, and white, similar in size; the dividing line between the patches should run down the middle of the back and across the middle of the belly with colors alternating on each side of the division
Roan: Darker hairs (e.g., black or red) intermixed evenly with white hairs
Agouti: Alternate dark and light bands of color on each hair; colors include silver and golden
Albino: Pure white with pink eyes
Dalmatian: White body with dark spots
Himalayan: White body with brown or black nose, ears, and feet; red eyes
In addition, there are various other combinations of two or more colors. For instance, a collared variety exists, which has a different color of hair around the neck.
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*CRESTS, COLORS & PATTERNS—A crest is a rosette placed evenly between the ears, on top of the head. It can exist on all coat varieties. Coat colors include white, black, brown, blonde, lilac, agouti, red, blue and others. All colors can be combined with white patterns and markings. Patterns include dalmatian, himalayan, dutch, roan, tortoiseshell and calico.
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[Source: peteducation.com]
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