Lunkarya Guinea Pig
The Lunkarya Guinea Pig is a rare and unusual breed originating from a spontaneous mutation discovered in Sweden in 1986 in a Peruvian guinea pig breeding line.
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Origin
Sweden
Lifespan
4–7 years
Weight
700–1,200 g
Height
20–30 cm
Diet
Herbivore — unlimited hay, fresh greens, pellets, daily vitamin C.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Caviidae
Genus
Cavia
The Story
The Lunkarya Guinea Pig is a rare and unusual breed originating from a spontaneous mutation discovered in Sweden in 1986 in a Peruvian guinea pig breeding line. The Lunkarya's defining characteristic is a long, extremely coarse, wiry, and densely curled coat — unlike the Texel's soft curls, the Lunkarya's coat has a much harsher, more rigid texture, similar in feel to wire wool or rough wool fleece. This coarse-curl gene is dominant, which means a single copy of the gene is sufficient to produce the characteristic coat — unlike the Texel where the curl gene is recessive. The breed remains rare outside Scandinavia and is little-known internationally.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
The Lunkarya has a long, dense coat of very coarse, tightly wound curls that are noticeably different in texture from the Texel — where the Texel's curls are soft and flowing, the Lunkarya's curls are wiry and stiff, standing away from the body in a dense, rough mass. The coat extends over the entire body including the face. Three Lunkarya varieties exist based on which foundation breed was crossed: Lunkarya Peruvian (long, dense curls with centre parting), Lunkarya Sheltie (long curls flowing backward), and Lunkarya Coronet (with a forehead rosette).
Grooming
Very High
Shedding
High
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Same gentle, social temperament as other long-coated guinea pig breeds. The coarse texture of the coat means they are less bothered by coat-related discomfort than might be expected — the wiry texture tends to be more self-supporting and less prone to matting than soft long coats.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Same basic care as all guinea pigs — pairs, hay, vitamin C, floor time. The coarse wiry coat requires regular grooming with a wide-toothed comb. Unlike soft long coats, the coarseness of the Lunkarya coat means it tends to hold its shape better and debris falls out more readily — making it somewhat lower maintenance than the Texel or Silkie despite similar coat length. Regular perianal trimming essential.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Same as American Guinea Pig. The coarse coat texture means skin infections from coat matting are slightly less common than in softer long-coated breeds. However, the density of the coat still requires regular inspection for skin conditions hidden beneath the curls.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The Lunkarya's name comes from the Swedish breeder who first documented the mutation — "Lunk" is a diminutive for the breed's discovery in a Swedish Peruvian guinea pig line in 1986.
The Lunkarya curl gene is dominant — a single copy of the gene produces the characteristic coarse curly coat. This makes breeding Lunkaryas genetically simpler than breeding Texels (recessive) as every offspring of a Lunkarya × smooth cross will have the curly coat.
The Lunkarya is essentially unknown outside Scandinavia and a small number of specialist breeders in other European countries — it is probably the rarest of all recognised guinea pig breeds by population.
Also Known As
Related Tags
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Baldwin Guinea Pig
Spontaneous mutation in a White Crested line in California, USA (1980s)