Ocean Pigs

[Wigwig]

My father and sister are in Uzbekistan and they came across these guinea pigs at a national park! Apparently they are known locally as ocean pigs because they came from across the ocean.

 

[Tea And Coffee]

They are so cute

 

[VickiA]

I wonder how easy it is to find an exotics vet in Uzbekistan....see how my mind works!

 

[Swissgreys]

That's really interesting.
Here in Switzerland (and Germany too) they are called 'Meerschweinchen', which literally means sea (meer) pigs (schweinchen).
Apparently it's because they are considered 'exotic' animals as they came from over the sea! And Switzerland doesn't even have a coast line!

 

[VickiA]

See, every day I learn something new on this forum. Thanks to you both @Wigwig and @Swissgreys

 

[Maddy]

Here in the UK they are classed as exotic pets as they come from the andies

 

[Cookies&Glitter]

They are exotic pets in the US too but I certainly like sea pigs or ocean pigs better than Guinea as they are from the Andes and not New Guinea

 

[Cookies&Glitter]

My mind is totally blown and I'm telling all my friends this btw so now they really think I'm weird

 

[Freela]

Such cute little ocean pigs! There are some interesting names for guinea pigs out there in different languages. My kids and I speak both English and French... in French they are called 'cochon d'Inde,' which translates into Indian pig (actually, literally 'pig of India.) Of course, as they aren't from India, this also makes no real sense as a name!

 

[Wigwig]

Such cute little ocean pigs! There are some interesting names for guinea pigs out there in different languages. My kids and I speak both English and French... in French they are called 'cochon d'Inde,' which translates into Indian pig (actually, literally 'pig of India.) Of course, as they aren't from India, this also makes no real sense as a name!

Our previous neighbor had a spanish nanny for her son at one point, and the nanny said that in her area of spain, they are called conejo de inca = rabbit of the inca. The french version seems like its the along the same lines, the native peoples of the americas are called indians so must be what its meaning.
I love finding out the names other countries have for guinea pigs. In my opinion, they all make more sense than the english term, i mean where does guinea come into anything lol.

 

[Freela]

Our previous neighbor had a spanish nanny for her son at one point, and the nanny said that in her area of spain, they are called conejo de inca = rabbit of the inca. The french version seems like its the along the same lines, the native peoples of the americas are called indians so must be what its meaning.
I love finding out the names other countries have for guinea pigs. In my opinion, they all make more sense than the english term, i mean where does guinea come into anything lol.

Maybe that's where it comes from. Though the French does use the name for India (Inde) and opposed to referring to 'les Indiens' (indigenous people.) I think that most likely people just knew they were foreign and inserted foreign-sounding countries. I do think that the rabbit reference makes more sense than the pig one... guinea pigs seem more like a rabbit than a traditional pig in terms of size, appearance, temperament, etc. I've really got no idea why they're associated with pigs. Other than the squealing noises, I don't really see a resemblance there!