12 Guinea Pigs With The Most Majestic Hair

What do Rapunzel, Ariana Grande, and a guinea pig have in common? If you guessed hair, you are right. There are many species of guinea pigs, but Abyssinian, Peruvian, Coronet and Silkie guinea pigs are unique in their impressive, floor-length fur. These little creatures are beautiful to look at, but require a lot of care because of their unusual locks. Take a look at a few of these long-haired beauties.

Guinea pigs are not pigs, nor are they from New Guinea. It is thought that they were named "guinea" because they were sold for one guinea (21 shillings) when they first brought to England. However, another theory is that English people thought they came from the West African coast of Guinea, since they were imported from South America via the Guinea slave trade ships. The "pig" part of the name may have come from the sound and shape of the guinea pigs, which can be similar to a miniature pig. Professional breeders and people who show guinea pigs usually call them cavies, named after their wild cousins. The Abyssinian guinea pig is mysteriously named, and no one knows where the name came from. Abyssinia is the former name of the country of Ethiopia, but guinea pigs bear no resemblance to native animals there.