Chinchilla

Lore & Background

They are agile jumpers, capable of leaping up to 1.8 m (6 ft), and inhabit burrows or rock crevices. Their predators include birds of prey, skunks, felines, snakes, and canines. Defensive tactics include spraying urine and releasing fur if bitten. In the wild, they eat plant leaves, fruits, seeds, and small insects. They can breed any time of year, with a typical season from May to November, and are generally monogamous.

Reader's Guide

Chinchillas have been significant in the fur trade since the 16th century, prized for their extremely soft, dense fur. Overhunting led to near extinction of Chinchilla chinchilla and severe pressure on Chinchilla lanigera. Though illegal to hunt wild chinchillas, poaching continues. Domestic chinchillas, descended from C. lanigera, are bred for fur and kept as pets. They require extensive exercise, dental care, and a temperature-controlled environment, and they clean themselves with dust baths. In scientific research, chinchillas have been used since the 1950s, notably for studying the auditory system, Chagas disease, and various infections. Both species are listed as Endangered by the IUCN, with a 90% global population loss since 2001. Their conservation status has fluctuated over decades, reflecting limited recovery in some areas.

Did You Know?

• Domestic chinchillas are descended from the long-tailed species, Chinchilla lanigera.