CHINCHILLA Chinchilla lanigera Mammal Order Rodentia Description 10 in. long not including the tail. Weight 1-2 lbs. Soft dense fur usually silver gray. Large rounded ears, large eyes, long whiskers, and bushy tail. Large hind feet and small front legs. Females larger thanmales. Numerous fine hairs grow from each single hair follicle, this iswhat makes their coat so dense. Range High Andes Mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Status Common in captivity. Almost extinct in their original range due to excessive hunting and habitat destruction. The Giant Chinchilla is extinct due to this. C.I.T.E.S Appendix I Photo © Greg Neise

Ecology Habitat 3,000 to 15,000 feet above sea level. Live in rock crevices or borrows.   Niche herbivorous, crepuscular. Lives in social groups ranging from 14 to100 animals. Preyed upon by small mammals, snakes and birds of prey. Hunted extensively for their fur. Life History Chinchilla means "Little Chinta", the South American Indian tribe for which the animal is named. Gestation about 4 mo., litters range from1-6 offspring, average is 2, usually 2 litters per year. Newborns areprecocious and weaned at 6-8 wks. , mature at 4-12 months. Averagelife span 10 yrs. in captivity. Special Adaptations Fur insulates against the extreme dry, cold of the Andes. Long back legs allow animal to jump great distances. Flexible front digits can hold food items. Large ears and excellent hearing help animals detect predators. Continuously growing, chisel-like incisors (front) teeth for gnawing hard food items. Short grasping forelimbs and sharp nails allow them to be agile climbers. Bluish gray color blends with rocky habitat. Bathe in dust to keep hair clean. Long tail, which is one third the length of the entire body, provides balance for high speed escapes. Small body size allows the animal to escape into tiny crevices where predators cannot reach.