Why Do Guinea Pigs Squeal?
Guinea pigs are not called ” cuis ” by coincidence. This name, of onomatopoeic origin, refers to the vocalizations that these rodents emit on a regular basis, in both domestic and wild environments.
Communication in the animal world is a fascinating evolutionary process, and for this reason, various ethological researchers try to decipher the meaning of language in the different species of the animal kingdom. Here we pose the question: Why do guinea pigs squeal? If you want an answer, we encourage you to continue reading.
About guinea pigs
Before entering fully into the world of its communication, it is necessary that we define a little the species in question. Surprisingly enough, the guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus) is a species of hybrid rodent belonging to the Caviidae family . These curious pets are the result of the crossing of various species of the genus Cavia, such as Cavia aparea or Cavia magna.
Some of the differential characteristics of these small mammals are the following:
- They come from the Andean region of South America.
- They weigh about one kilogram and live between five and eight years.
- They are herbivorous animals, which require a continuous supply of fiber and vitamin C for an adequate state of health.
- This species has different morphotypes, which are differentiated by the disposition and nature of the coat.
- They are friendly, calm rodents and live in social groups.
It is this last characteristic that gives us the first clue as to why guinea pigs scream. If an animal lives in society, it has to have some way of communicating with its relatives, right?
Why do guinea pigs squeal?
As simple as the question may seem, various ethological studies have designed experimental models to discover the reason for these vocalizations. This task is not easy, since in addition to there are variations at the individual level, the so-called or “ cuis ” seem to have a different meaning depending on the age of the person who emits them.
The guinea pig is especially versatile, since according to these investigations, it is capable of emitting up to 11 different tones. Some of them respond to the following situations.
Guinea pigs (especially younger ones) make more audible sounds when they are in a novel environment. This coincides with increases in the body’s cortisol, a stress-related hormone.
When separated from their mothers, the young emit calls of loneliness, which are accompanied by an increase in movement and general agitation of the animal. Once the little ones return to their parents, the mothers emit a series of purrs to calm their offspring.
But not everything is linked to a relationship between mothers and children, since many other vocalizations are linked to other processes. Here are some examples.
A sound for every situation
Various studies have investigated when, how and why different vocalizations occur in different situations. These are some of the results:
- The chut, the most common vocalization in guinea pigs, seems to be present in all kinds of situations, whether they are social or not. The emission of these preliminary sounds is very present when two individuals meet and try to identify themselves, to later be replaced by other vocalizations more appropriate to the situation.
- The complaining sound is generally produced when a situation causes discomfort in the animal. For example, when a non-receptive female is approached by a breeding male.
- The squeal occurs when the guinea pig experiences some kind of physical pain.
There are many more sounds and vocalizations emitted by guinea pigs, but one idea is clear to us: these animals squeak to communicate with each other. Each key has a specific function, and from an evolutionary point of view, it is much more effective to warn against a negative interaction with a sound than with a physical act that requires more energy.
Question of sociality
As we have seen, social animals such as guinea pigs have developed complex linguistic mechanisms to communicate different feelings and emotions. This is beneficial for all members of the colony, as they detect dangers more quickly and avoid unnecessary fights between them.
In the animal world, everything has a biological response. Therefore, if you have a guinea pig at home, we encourage you to try to understand in what situations and how often it produces its vocalizations, because it may be trying to convey a message, such as continuous stress or a feeling of loneliness.
