The chinchilla, a rodent smaller than a cat with velvety, rounded ears and grayish, plush fur, is one of the world’s most fascinating creatures. The chinchilla is incredibly social and lives in large family groups. They can even form herds of more than 100 animals. Male chinchillas are more social than other rodents and will help to raise their young if necessary. If a mother is not able to care for her kits on her own, another woman may be able to help. That’s neighborly behavior!
The two chinchillas are the Chilean Chinchilla lanigera, and the Short-tailed Chinchilla chinchilla. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed both species as endangered due to excessive trapping and hunting. C. The lanigera type is more commonly kept as pets.
In the Andes Mountains in South America, the chinchillas evolved over millions of years to produce their thick, dense and lush fur in order to withstand extreme weather conditions. Incans used chinchillas as pets and for meat. In the early 1700s chinchilla fur was popular, and in 1828 commercial hunting began in Northern Chile. C. was the most common chinchilla to be hunted or trapped. The chinchilla, with its larger size and higher quality fur was particularly sought-after. Fur traders used explosives to blow up their burrow systems and kill many rodents.
In the early 1900s, chinchillas had just a few years to go before they became extinct.
Channeling chinchillas. The Chinchilla Chronicles (yes, it exists) states that an American miner named Mathias F. Chapman was infatuated with these rotund rodents. He received permission from Chilean authorities to bring nearly 12 chinchillas to the US during the 1920s. The transport was done with care, he took over a whole year to gradually acclimate them to lower altitudes, and brought their natural foods for the trip. Nearly every pet chinchilla that lives in the US is believed to be a descendant of 11 chinchillas Chapman brought over.
The domestic chinchillas have grown to almost double their size in less than 100 years of selective breeding. Females grow about 30% larger than males. The difference in size is less noticeable when they are out of the wild.
Furry and fast. It is closely related to porcupines and guinea-pigs. The chinchilla has short, muscular front legs that are used to support food while they sit up. They also have long hind legs. Hair of the chinchilla is approximately 1.5 inches long (40 millimeters), with bands in gray, black, and white. The color can be bluish-gray or silver. They are agile and can leap across six-foot gaps. The thick fur of the chinchilla hides a rodent with a remarkable athletic physique.
The bushy tail of this animal twitches as it surveys the landscape. The short forefeet are five-digited, while the narrow hindfeet only have three. They also have a primitive digit, which is a stiff bristle surrounding a flat, small claw. The bristles can help with traction in rocky terrain. Males and females are different in size.
Chinchillas are easily overheated in the care of humans due to their dense coat and lack of ability to sweat or pant. The only way it can cool itself is by pumping blood through the large, less-haired ears.
HABITS AND DIET
The hole is real. Chinchillas live in arid and rugged Andean areas in northern Chile, at altitudes ranging from 9,800 feet to 16,000 foot (3,000-5,000 meters). They dig holes in rocks or hide in crevices.
IUCN says: The typical habitat is sandy or rocky with a sparse covering of thorny plants, few forbs and herbs, scattered cactuses and patches of bromeliads along the coast.
Seeds and greens. Despite its harsh environment, Chilean chinchilla Chinchilla lanigera are selective folivores and granivores, selecting plants that have high fiber content and low lignin. Its diet varies seasonally. The most popular food is perennial Chilean needle grass. However, it also eats ferns and succulent bromeliads. Cactus may be its primary source of drinking water. The cactus eats while sitting up, with food held in the forefeet.
FAMILY LIFE
Chillin’ chinchillas. Chinchillas can be nocturnal, crepuscular or both. They sit up straight in open spaces, and their habitat is mostly arid. This allows them to sunbathe, groom, or eat while sitting upright. To keep their incisors from growing too fast, they must chew on objects. The chinchillas rarely fight with their neighbors. For a shiny, healthy coat, the chinchillas must regularly dust themselves, leaving behind a circle of fine, light pumice powder.
Keep an eye on this! Living together in large numbers can reduce the risk of danger because there are many eyes watching. As a rodent, they are fair game for a variety of predators, both on land and in the air. They can be taken by hawks or owls from above, but foxes, snakes, and cougars will hunt them down. These agile creatures can defend themselves by running fast, diving for cover or spraying urine. If things get really tense, they will even release a fur clump in an attacker’s mouth if it is bitten.
These defenses are not enough to keep them safe from the most dangerous predator they face: humans. Chinchillas are hunted for their furs and their population continues to decrease despite protections.
Chinchilla chatter. Chinchillas, like most social mammal species, have an extensive vocal repertoire. While exploring, the chinchilla makes ten different sounds that vary by behavior context. These include responses to predators and sexual interactions, as well as social behaviors toward friends and foes. Merck Veterinary Manual notes that all chinchillas have a common cry they use from birth.
Families are important. The long-tailed as well as short-tailed Chinchillas are social animals, and they live in colonies that can contain up to 100 people. Females can be aggressive and dominant towards other females, as well as males when estrus is in progress. However, serious fights are rare.
Females can have up to three litters in a year after an estrous cycle lasting 38 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, breeding occurs from November through May. The average litter size is two, although it can range from one to six. The babies are born with full fur and their ears and eyes open. Around eight months old, young become sexually mature.
Males are more likely to stick around than other rodents and can help with parenting duties, such as babysitting. If a mother is unable to care for her young, another woman may take over.
CONSERVATION
In 1929, conservation measures to protect (long-tailed Chilean chinchillas) were put into place. The laws weren’t enforced seriously until 1983, when the Chilean Reserva National Las Chinchillas was established. IUCN states that the populations within the reserve have declined, whereas those in habitats restored outside are on an upward trend. The mining industry is a major threat to the once-widespread rodent.
In decline. In the past, there has been a 90-percent decline in population of short-tailed Chinchillas. The illegal hunting and trapping has decreased somewhat due to the introduction of human-cared rearing. They once lived in the Andes in Bolivia, Peru and Chile.
The threats that chinchillas face are still present. These include illegal hunting, habitat destruction from cattle and goats grazing, mining and the extraction of firewood. Domestic chinchillas do not fall under international conservation laws. Sharing information about chinchillas and allowing people to get up close with the adorable rodents can inspire them to conserve these animals.