We are all getting back into the habit of getting a haircut, and over the last few months, many of us have no doubt seen our hairstyles go in some pretty crazy directions. Spare a thought though for these little creatures, they truly have some of the craziest hairdos in the whole of the natural world – as proven by these fantastic pictures posted on Instagram by healthylife.za
The little Guinea Pig is native to the Andean region of South America and are somewhat misleadingly named, they aren't from Guinea and they are in no way related to pigs. They are, in fact, related to rabbits.
First domesticated by South American Andean tribes around 500B.C., they were bred for food. It was after the Spanish invasion of the Americas that Guinea Pigs were bred to produce a wide array of different breeds, many of whom make up the popular domestic breeds many people own today.
Thankfully, Guinea Pigs are no longer used as a food source and are primarily kept as pets, though they do continue to be used in scientific experimentation. The common use of guinea pigs in scientific settings is why the term 'guinea-pig' is frequently used for any group taking part in an untried experiment. Animal rights campaigners have long fought against this practice which they regard as unnecessary and cruel.
Guinea Pigs are also still used as gifts and in religious ceremonies by native peoples and since arriving in Europe in the 16th century is now one of the continent's most popular pets.
The American Cavy Breeders Association (Guinea Pigs are sometimes referred to as 'Cavys'), recognises 13 breeds, including the Abyssinian, American, Coronet, Peruvian, Silkie, Teddy, Texal and White Crested, some of which are shown in these amazing photographs.
A word of warning, if you wish to copy any of these styles, you are going to need a lot of hairspray!
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