'Skinny Pigs' tend to eat way more than their furry cousins to maintain their body temperature.

There was a commercial that used to air on TV long ago which was basically a PSA about how everything we see on TV is now what it seems. The commercial was set up like a nature documentary about the elusive "North American House Hippo" and while they implied that it was not a real animal, we all dreamed we could befriend and play with them too. Well, the good news is that these "house hippos" actually exist, but the TV commercial was right that they are totally not what they seem. 

To begin with, these 'skinny pigs' are not trueborn pigs nor are they hippos. According to a report, they're actually hairless guinea pigs but taking one look at them will only have you thinking "umm, pocket-sized hippo!". The 'Skinny pigs' are a particular breed of the guinea pig which are naturally hairless except for a few whiskers on their muzzles, feet, and legs. This was a result of scientific cross-breeding done in 1978 and it seems to have worked out pretty well. Back then, scientists allegedly bred a hairless guinea pig with one of their hairless lab strains and this adorable hippo-looking rodent was the result of it. 

If you place them beside each other, you will see that there is a substantial difference between those furry guinea pigs and these silky cuties. Skinny Pigs have a unique body shape where they are mostly smooth, with some wrinkles around their legs and neck. A healthy skinny pig will be so plump that you won't be able to see their spine or ribs clearly. The gene causing hairlessness in skinny pigs is a recessive gene, and breeding two skinny pigs together will always result in all offspring being skinny pigs.

But aside from their physical appearance, they are similar to their cousins in nearly all ways. Both the breeds are outgoing and amicably social. Their cuteness is over the top and sometimes it feels like they're aware of it and will act in the most affectionate way. One major difference is that the 'Skinny Pigs' need to eat way more than their furry cousins to maintain their body temperature. Also, if you do happen to find yourself in the care of one or many, be sure to provide them with cozy blankets so they may keep themselves warm. 

Also, it's important to note that they are quite sensitive to direct sunlight, due to their whole "no hair" thing they have going on. So caretakers always apply enough sunblock on their little piggy's skins, especially if they're gonna be spending a lot of time outside. The Skinny Pigs are also prone to dry skin, but again, frequent application of the appropriate lotion will easily remedy any such problems.

Thanks to its inherent cuteness and unique body structure, these Skinny Pigs are gaining popularity all over the internet. This is evident especially in places like Canada, Scandinavia, Western Europe, Russia, and even the United States since the late 1990s. We sure would love to see and play with one, they look like adorable cuddle buddies!