Latin name The scientific name of the common species is Cavia porcellus, with '' being Latin for "little pig". Cavia is Neo-Latin; it is derived from cabiai, the animal's name in the language of the Galibi tribes once native to French Guiana. Cabiai may be an adaptation of the Portuguese çavia (now savia), which is itself derived from the Tupi word saujá, meaning rat.
Latin name The scientific name of the common species is Cavia porcellus, with '' being Latin for "little pig". Cavia is Neo-Latin; it is derived from cabiai, the animal's name in the language of the Galibi tribes once native to French Guiana. Cabiai may be an adaptatio.n of the Portuguese çavia (now savia), which is itself derived from the Tupi word saujá, meaning rat.