Chinchilla: Chinchilla lanigera
In the Wild
Description:
 Members of a group of South American mammals known as the Caviomorpha
o Group includes varying sized rodent families
o Rodents with similar anatomical features and gestation periods
 Size: Body length of 8.8-14.9 inches (225-380 mm) and a tail averaging 2.9-5.9 inches
(75-150 mm)
o Slender bodies
o Sexually dimorphic: Females are typically larger than males
 Weight:
o Females can weigh up to 28.2 ounces (800 grams)
o Males can weigh up to 17.6 ounces (500 grams)
 Extremely soft, dense fur
o As many as 60 hairs grow out of one follicle (compared to humans who have one
hair growing out of each follicle)
o Each hair usually has a black tip
o Back is usually bluish, pearl or brown-grey and belly is yellow-white
o Tail is furry with coarse hairs on the dorsal surface
 Broad head, large ears and large black eyes
 All four feet have four digits with stiff bristles surrounding weak claws
Habitat and Range:
 Occurs from northern Chile along the foothills of the Andes and coastal mountains south
to Talca
 Barren, rocky, mountainous habitat (elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 meters)
Diet:
 Generally herbivorous: Eat grass, seeds and fruits
 May also eat insects and bird eggs opportunistically
Adaptations:
 Soft dense fur insulates against the cold of the barren mountainous regions it inhabits
 Long strong hind legs and a tail measuring up to a third the size of its body allows for
quick and agile running and jumping
 Long, sensitive whiskers, large eyes and big ears allow for nocturnal lifestyle
 Bathe in dust because hair is so dense it would be difficult to dry in the wild in their cold
habitat
Lifespan:
 In the wild: About 10 years
 In captivity: Can live over 20 years
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Chinchilla: Chinchilla lanigera
Ecosystem relationships:
 Live in colonies of up to 100 individuals
 Foxes are main predators
Reproduction:
 Female chinchillas are mostly monogamous
 Female chinchillas are the dominant sex and are very aggressive toward one another
and toward males during estrus
 Sexual maturity in both sexes occurs on average at 8 months but may occur as early as
5.5 months – females have their first litter at a mean age of about 1 year 3 months
 Breeding season occurs between November and May in the northern hemisphere and
between May and November in the southern hemisphere
 Gestation period averages about 4 months (relatively long for a small mammal)
 Relatively advanced young at birth allows mother to mate again and bear another litter
within the year
o Females bear two litters per year with 1-6 young per litter
o Young are fully furred at birth and their eyes are open
o Not much parental care required
o Time to weaning is about 2 months
Activity:
 Primarily nocturnal – activity peaks at dusk and dawn
Other “fun facts”:
 While eating chinchillas sit upright on their hind legs and hold their food with their front
paws
 Domestic chinchillas are very social and can be trained to play and interact with their
owner
o Have good memories and memorize trails
o Shy but very trusting of their owners
 Despite aggressiveness of female chinchillas serious fighting in the wild is rare
o Threats expressed through growling, chattering of teeth and urinating
Conservation Status and Threats:
 IUCN Critically Endangered
 Species was once widespread but in 1996 only 42 discrete colonies could be found in the
wild and the number of colonies and the general population size has been declining
since
o Population decline of more than 90% over the past 3 generations
o Fewer than 10,000 are thought to live in the wild
 Have been hunted for their fur since the 1900s
o Around this time about 500,000 chinchilla skins were exported from Chile
annually
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Chinchilla: Chinchilla lanigera


o Considered to be one of the most valuable pelts in the world
o Over 100 chinchilla pelts are needed for one fur coat
Habitat threatened by overgrazing, mining and firewood extraction
Reintroduction attempts have failed
o Possible that current numbers are below minimum population viability size for
long-term survival
o Predation by foxes has increased
At the Zoo
Yum Yum (dark grey) and Snow Queen (white) were donated to the zoo from a private owner
in 2008. Yum Yum (mother) was born in 2003 and Snow Queen (daughter) was born in 2006.
Both are females weighing 550-650 grams (about 1 pound).
What We Can Do


Do your research before buying a pet
o Make sure you are not purchasing a wild-caught individual
o Captive-bred species are often easy to find
Opt for fake fur over real fur when buying coats and other clothing and accessories
o All of our shopping choices can have an impact on the environment and wildlife
so when available opt for recycled and local products
o Research responsible companies that do not use animal based products or
testing
References:
 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chinchilla_lanige
ra.html
 http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/4652/0
 http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/smallmammals/fact-chinchilla.cfm
 http://www.arkive.org/long-tailed-chinchilla/chinchilla-lanigera/#text=Conservation
 MacDonald, D., & Norris, S. (Ed.). (2001). Other Cavy-like Rodents. The encyclopedia of
mammals. (1 ed., Vol. 1, pp. 682-684). Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Andromeda
Oxford Ltd.
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