In order to create these mostly hairless rodents to use in dermatologic studies, the researchers continued to breed these guinea pigs within the lab setting. #AnimalOfTheMonth 3/4

In 1978, researchers at Montreal’s Armand Frappier Institute identified a spontaneous genetic mutation that caused hairlessness among a laboratory colony of Hartley guinea pigs. #AnimalOfTheMonth 2/4

Skinny pigs don’t live in the wild and never have. That’s because they were literally created in a Canadian lab. #AnimalOfTheMonth 🧵1/4

Skinny pigs are actually a different breed of guinea pig – and that’s why they have the same scientific name as guinea pigs. #AnimalOfTheMonth 2/2

Skinny pigs have the same scientific name as guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) because they are both the same species. #AnimalOfTheMonth 🧵1/2

Nothing like a made in Canada #AnimalOfTheMonth, eh? Follow us right here as we post about #SkinnyPigs throughout #September, and find out more about them and their Canadian connection.