Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera, Chinchilla brevicaudata)

Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera; Chinchilla brevicaudata) are members of the rodent family and close relatives of the guinea pig. These fascinating creatures boast compact bodies; squirrel like tails; large, bat like eyes; pronounced, thin, erect ears; and, of course, the famous thick, soft, velvety hair coats. Chinchillas were once native to the high, rocky slopes of the Andes Mountains, stretching from Peru to the tip of Chile. The Chincha Indians inhabiting these slopes valued the chinchilla’s fur as clothing for protection against the bitter Andean cold. As Spanish influence spread across the South American continent, chinchilla fur soon became a valuable export item to Europe. As a result, chinchillas were harvested to near extinction up to the early part of the twentieth century. Today, Chile is the only country still harboring a native population of chinchillas, which is under government protection. Chinchillas first began to appear in the United States in the early 1900s, where they were and are bred and raised commercially for their valuable fur. As the demand for natural fur declines in the United States, more and more chinchillas are finding their way into homes as pets. As a rule, they are clean creatures and harbor little odor. Fun, active, and full of personality, they love to interact with people they know and trust. Chinchillas enjoy being petted and scratched and often emit a soft cooing sound when such attention is afforded them. Their long, heavily muscled hind legs enable them to sit up on their haunches while nibbling on a morsel, and hop around like a kangaroo when the feeling arises. Their acute sense of hearing can cause them to become easily frightened or startled when they are confronted with loud noises or high-pitched sounds. When frightened, a chinchilla may let out a cry and scurry for cover. In fact, if the fright turns into anger, this cry could actually turn into a surprisingly belligerent bark or growl.
The standard chinchilla is blue-gray to dark gray in color, although mutant color variations do exist. These include charcoal, black, brown, beige, and white. Chinchillas weigh in at approximately 400 to 800 grams (with females often weighing more than males) and average about 14 inches in length from head to tail. Their lifespan in captivity averages 10 years, although there have been reports of some living to be 20 Years.