General Features:
* Size: Typically 8-12 inches long and weigh 1-2 pounds.
* Body: Stocky and round, with short legs and a short, thick neck.
* Head: Relatively large with a blunt snout, small eyes, and small, triangular ears.
* Tail: Very short and nearly invisible.
Coat Variations:
* Length: They come in short, medium, long, and rough coats.
* Color: A wide range of colors, including black, white, brown, red, orange, yellow, cream, silver, and gray. They can also have multiple colors and patterns, like roan, calico, and Dutch.
* Texture: Some have smooth, silky fur, while others have rough, wiry fur.
Specific Breeds:
* Abyssinian: Has distinctive rosettes (circular patterns of hair) on its body.
* American: Short, smooth coat.
* Peruvian: Long, silky hair that flows back from the head and drapes over the body.
* Sheltie: Long, silky hair that flows back from the head and parts in the middle.
* Texel: Long, curly hair that forms a spiral pattern.
* Coronet: Long, silky hair that flows back from the head, but with a distinctive crown of hair on top of the head.
* Silkie: Very soft, long, silky hair that drapes over the body.
* Alpaca: Long, silky hair that flows back from the head and parts on the back.
Overall: Guinea pigs are very diverse in appearance. It's like a miniature, furry world of possibilities!