Top 10 facts about guinea pigs

A GUINEA pig named Hilary plays a major part in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s very funny and very rude one-woman play Fleabag, now playing to packed houses at the Soho Theatre (www.sohotheatre.com).

Top 10 Facts About Guinea Pigs

guinea pig, name, pet

The name 'guinea pig' is quite misleading [GETTY]

1. Hilary is not the only guinea pig currently in the news: officials at Eastwood Park prison were criticised last week for using a prison van to take a guinea pig to the vet accompanied by an officer.

2. Its name was Reggie Kray. His brother Ronnie and he helped to rehabilitate female prisoners.

3. Last month the National Portrait Gallery uncovered what it believes to be one of the earliest portraits of a pet guinea pig...

4. ...it dates from 1580 and may be seen at an exhibition Elizabeth I And Her People in October.

5. Guinea pigs are not pigs and have nothing to do with Guinea in West Africa.

6. The earliest reference to a guinea pig was in 1664.

The world record for the fastest 10 metres (32.81ft) by a guinea pig is 8.81 seconds

7. The earliest use of the term guinea pig for a human subject of an experiment was in 1920.

8. The world record for the fastest 10 metres (32.81ft) by a guinea pig is 8.81 seconds.

9. Then unofficial record for the longest jump by a guinea pig is 48cm (18.9in).

10. The Guinea Pig Club was formed by pilots treated for burns by pioneer plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe during the Second World War.

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