Chinchilla

Chinchilla Fossil range: Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Chinchillidae Genus: Chinchilla Bennett, 1829
Range map of Chinchilla species. Red dots = Last known families (Ch. lanigera).
Species
Chinchilla lanigera Chinchilla brevicaudata

Chinchilla is the common name and genus name for squirrel-sized South American rodents of the Andes mountains, characterized by thick, soft fur, bushy tails, broad head, four-toed feet on the short forelimbs and long hindlimbs, and a rabbit-like appearance. There are two extant species in the Chinchilla genus, Chinchilla brevicaudata (short-tailed chinchilla) and Chinchilla lanigera (long-tailed chinchilla). Chinchillas are closely related to the viscachas of the same family, Chinchillidae.

Once very abundant, chinchillas have been hunted nearly to extinction in the wild, valued for their very fine-textured, soft, and dense fur. Gregarious and either nocturnally active or crepuscular, wild chinchillas largely live in colonies in rocky areas of the Andes region of Bolivia and Chile, with some extension believed to remain into southern Peru and northwestern Argentina (Honeycutt 2004; Cortés et al. 2003). While they are now bred on farms for their fur, the wild populations remain very much at risk. In particular, C. brevicaudata is critically endangered.

Overview and description

Chincillas belong to the rodent family Chinchillidae with viscachas and their fossil relatives. All members of Chinchillidae are large-bodied animals with broad heads, large eyes, thick and soft fur, well-developed hind limbs that are longer than the forelimbs, bushy tails, and forefeet with fore toes (Myers 2000; Honeycutt 2004). They range in size from the chinchillas, which can be less than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) to the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) which can weigh up to 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds). They are restricted to southern and western South America, from Peru to Patagonia, often in association with the Andes, although the plains viscacha occurs at lower elevations in areas of southern Paraguay and northern Argentina (Honeycutt 2004).

There are three extant genera currently recognized: Chinchilla (chinchillas), Lagidium (mountain viscachas), and Lagostomus (plains viscachas), with three species in Lagidium, two in Chinchilla, and one in Lagostomus (Honeycutt 2004; ITIS 2001a, 2001b).

Chinchillas have four toes on the hind feet, with weakly developed hind claws, like the members of Lagidium, and unlike the three toes, with strong hind claws, of the strong-digging members of Lagostomus (Myers 2000). Chinchillas have very large auditory bulllae relative to the other two genera.

Chinchilla species

Comparison of Chinchilla species

There is little noticeable difference between two living species of chinchilla, Chinchilla brevicaudata and Chinchilla lanigera, other than the fact that C. brevicaudata(short-tailed chinchilla) has a relatively shorter tail and ears, and a thicker neck and shoulders than C. lanigera (long-tailed chinchilla). The long-tailed chinchilla has a body length of up to 26 centimeters (10 inches), with a tail length of about 13 centimeters (5.1 inches), while the short-tailed chinchilla ranges to about 30 to 33 centimeters (12 to 13 inches), with a tail length of about 10 centimeters (3.9 inches). While domestic animals tend to be more sexually dimorphic than wild species, with the female weighing up to 800 grams (28 ounces) and the male up to 600 grams (21 ounces), it is less so in the wild. Males of wild long-tailed chinchillas have been measured to weigh about 369–493 grams (13.0–17.4 ounces), with a mean of 412 grams (14.5 ounces) and females weigh 379–450 grams (13.4 to 15.9 ounces) with a mean of 422 grams (14.9 ounces) (Spotorno et al. 2004).

The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) also is called the Chilean, coastal, or lesser chinchilla and is found in mountainous regions of Chile. The short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla brevicaudata) also is called the Bolivian, Peruvian, and royal chinchilla, and has a historic range that includes the Andes of southern Bolivia, southern Peru, northwestern Argentina, and northern Chile (Honeycutt 2004). The long-tailed chinchilla has healthier population numbers, although it still is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with a high risk of extinction. The short-tailed chinchilla is critically endangered.

All neonates are precocial, fully furred, with erupted teeth, open eyes, and able to walk within an hour after birth.

The fur is remarkably dense, and has been said to have more hair per square inch than any other known mammal (AW 2008). The hair of the long-tailed chinchilla is about 2 to 4 centimeters (0.79–1.6 inches) long, with gray, white, and black bands; it is silky, extremely soft, and firmly adhered to skin (Bennett 1835). Up to 75 wool hairs, 5 to 11 millimeters (0.20–0.43 inches) in diameter, emerge together from a single skin pore. Vibrissae are abundant, strong, long (100–130 millimeters or 3.9 to 5.1 inches), and emerge from single follicles (Wilcox 1950). General color of upper parts is bluish or silvery gray, underparts are yellowish white. Tail has long, coarse, gray and black hairs on its dorsal surface that are 30 to 40 millimeters (1.2–1.6 inches) long near the body, 50 to 60 millimeters (2.0–2.4 inches) long near the tip, and form a bristly tuft that exceeds vertebrae by 50 millimeters (2.0 inches) (Bennett 1835).

Native environment

Andean Chinchilla habitat in Chile.

In their native habitat, chinchillas live in burrows or crevices in rocks. They are agile jumpers and can jump very high, up to 5 ft (1.5 m). Predators in the wild include hawks, skunks, felines, and canines. Chinchillas have a variety of defence tactics including spraying urine and releasing fur if bitten. In the wild, chinchillas have been observed eating plants, fruits, seeds, and small insects, though this diet could irritate the digestive system of a domestic chinchilla whose diet should be primarily hay-based.

In nature, chinchillas live in colonies. Chinchilla females are significantly bigger than males. Chinchillas can breed any time of the year. At 111 days, they have a very long gestation period compared to other rodents. Due to this long pregnancy, chinchillas are born fully furred and with eyes open. Litters are usually small in number, predominately twins.

The natural habitat of Chinchilla lanigera is barren, arid, and rugged areas of transverse mountain chains in north-central Chile that connect the coastal mountain ranges to the Andes with elevations from 400 to 2,000 m (1,300 to 6,600 ft). Climate is rather harsh with summer temperatures climbing during the day to up to 30°C in a shade and dropping to 7°C at night (or below freezing point in winter).

Typical habitat is rocky or sandy with a sparse cover of thorn shrubs, few herbs and forbs, scattered cacti, and patches of succulent bromeliads toward the coast. Wild Chilean chinchillas feed on up to 24 plant species, mainly herbs and grasses. Diet changes between sites both seasonally and across years. They consume succulents in summer and appear to drink no water in the wild.

Chinchilla lanigera is social. Colonies of ca. 100 individuals are usual, but can reach as many as 500 individuals and spread over a 100 ha area. Isolated colonies form a metapopulation, with frequent local extinctions and colonizations of suitable habitat patches. Population density is 4-5 individuals/ha. Population size does not fluctuate between years of low and high rainfall. Predators include culpeo foxes (Pseudalopex culpaeus), which take both adults and juveniles, and Magellan-horned owls (Bubo magellanicus), which prey mainly on juveniles .

Because of the impending extinction of short-tailed chinchillas, conservation measures were implemented in the 1890s in Chile. However, these measures were unregulated. The 1910 treaty between Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru brought the first international efforts to ban hunting and commercialization of chinchillas. Unfortunately, this effort led to great price increase and thus further led to the decline of the remaining populations. The first successful protection law passed in Chile was not until 1929. Today, both the short-tailed and long-tailed chinchillas are listed at “endangered” in Chile and as “threatened” by the IUCN. Because of successful reproduction in captive environments, chinchillas are less hunted in the wild.

History

The animal (whose name literally means "little Chincha") is named after the Chincha people of the Andes, who wore its soft and dense fur. By the end of the 19th century, chinchillas had become quite rare due to hunting for their fur. Most chinchillas currently used by the fur industry for clothing and other accessories are farm-raised.

The first literature reference to chinchillas dates back to 1599 in a book published in Seville, entitled Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias, written by Father José de Acosta: (from Spain) "About mountain animals. Chinchillas are another type of small animals such as squirrels. They have a fur (coat) that is of wonderful softness".

One of the first people to think of breeding chinchillas for profit was the Jesuit priest Juan Ignacio Molina, who was also the first person to provide an accurate description of Chinchilla in 1810. There were repeated attempts to breed these animals in captivity. The first reliable report of successful breeding attempt in captivity comes from Frederico Albert (1900), who was director of the zoological and botanical research station at Santiago, Chile. He reports in his article "La Chinchilla" about a certain Francisco Irrazaval in Santiago who had received a pair of chinchillas (presumably Chinchilla lanigera) in 1895. The first chinchilla was born that same year and the pair continued to produce 2 litters a year until the outbreak of an epidemic during the summer of 1896 ruined this excellent breeding success, and all the animals, 13 at that time, died within a period of two months.

Mathias F. Chapman, a mining engineer from California, was working in Chile in 1918 when he purchased a chinchilla as a pet and took a liking to it. He envisioned raising a whole herd of chinchillas and he applied to the Chilean government for permission to capture and transport several animals to the US. At this point, chinchillas were already close to extinction from humans killing them for the fur trade. The Chilean government was reluctant to grant trapping permission, but Chapman persisted, and eventually the government allowed him to catch them.

Chapman and a group of men searched the mountain for three years and caught only eleven chinchillas. He then took the 12,000 ft (3,700 m) climb down over a period of twelve months so the chinchillas could acclimate to the changing environment. He then brought the eleven wild chinchillas he had captured to the United States for breeding, where he started the first chinchilla farm. Only three of these chinchillas were female. This was the beginning of the domestic chinchilla. Since the mid-1960s, chinchillas have become increasingly popular as house pets.

Fur industry

The international trade in chinchilla fur goes back to the 16th century. The fur from chinchillas is popular in the fur trade due to its extremely soft feel, because they have about 60 hairs sprouting from each hair follicle. The color is usually very even which makes it ideal for small garments or lining of large garments, though some large garments can be made entirely from the fur. The pelt of a chinchilla is relatively small, so many animals must be killed to make a single coat. This fact led to the extinction of one species, and put serious pressure on the other two. Though wild chinchillas are no longer hunted for their fur, domestic chinchillas are still bred for this use.

Chinchillas as pets

Standard Gray Chinchilla

Domestic chinchillas can be kept as pets. Chinchillas are crepuscular and typically do not like to be disturbed during the day, which may make them less favorable as pets to some people. Chinchillas are naturally very skittish creatures and generally do not like to be held, although they can become very attached to their owners if they grow up without a cage mate. Because of their high-strung disposition, they are not usually considered to be good pets for small children. However, chinchillas can be very friendly animals if sufficiently acclimated to human touch as kits, making them excellent pets for patient owners.

Chinchillas can be very docile if given sufficient attention as kits

Male chinchillas tend to be easier to handle because they are not subject to temperament fluctuations due to the estrus cycle.

Captive chinchillas commonly live 15 years, but some have been known to live up to 20 or more. Currently (as of 2008), the world's oldest chinchilla is 27 years old and resides in the UK. The oldest chinchilla in America lived to be 26.

Chinchillas make a variety of vocalizations, including chirps, squeaks, and barks. They use these sounds to express themselves, from a calm, loving chirp given to a potential mate to a loud, aggressive bark when threatened. Chinchilla kits often greet their parents with a very high pitch chirp, usually to indicate that they are hungry. The first scientific study on chinchilla sounds in their social environment was conducted by Dr. vet. med. Bartl in Germany. Since they are active at night, it is not uncommon for them to vocalize in the early hours of the morning. If irritated or frightened, the female chinchillas may cluck loudly and spray urine at the offender.

Chinchillas can be housed with others of the same sex; however, it is possible that they may fight. Fighting or getting along depends on the individual animals. If the chinchillas are either introduced when young, or gradually introduced when older, conflict can be reduced. Males and females usually get along well, although they must be spayed or neutered to avoid reproduction. However, reproduction rates are low with up to two litters per year of 1-3 kits (3 being rare).

Since chinchillas are very active animals, it is best to house them in a large enclosure, such as a room of their own instead of a small cage. If kept in a cage, the chinchillas need to have a large area replete with shelves or other obstacles on which to play. The cage should be taller than it is wide, as the chinchilla's natural environment is very mountainous. Chinchillas also need other forms of stimulation, such as hanging wooden toys, large wheels (over 16 in (410 mm) in diameter and not constructed of mesh, as chinchilla legs and toes can easily get caught), or paper towel tubes. Wooden sticks and chew toys are also good options, but conifer woods (especially cedar) should be avoided because of the high content of resins that are toxic for chinchillas. Birch, willow, apple tree or manzanita are all safe woods for chinchillas to chew. Plastic in the cage should be avoided at all times. Chinchillas are often voracious chewers, and any ingested plastic can cause blockage in the intestines. As with most small animals, red cedar bedding should never be used due to its toxic nature. The cage must have good air circulation. The chinchilla lacks the ability to sweat; therefore, if temperatures get above 25°C (80°F), the chinchilla could get overheated and may suffer from heat stroke.

Active and inquisitive by nature, chinchillas need to spend some time outside of the cage (around half an hour a day and always supervised) to exercise and to satisfy their curiosity. Chinchillas will chew on inappropriate items including electrical cords.

File:ChinSquash.jpg

Chinchillas are very inquisitive - actively exploring and interacting with their environment

Chinchillas can be found in a variety of colors including the standard gray (the only color found in nature), beige, ebony, and many others. They instinctively clean their fur by taking dust baths several times a week, in which they roll around in a container full of special chinchilla dust made of sand or fine pumice. The dust gets into their coat of fur and absorbs oil. Chinchillas do not bathe in water because the density of their fur retains moisture close to the skin, which can cause fungus growth or rot.

File:ChinChin.jpg

White Mosaic Chinchilla with dark gray marking

Chinchillas eat and digest desert grasses and cannot efficiently process fatty foods or too many green plants. A high quality, hay-based pellet and a constant supply of loose hay will sufficiently meet all of their dietary needs. Chinchillas have very sensitive GI tracts that can be easily disrupted so it is important to maintain them on a healthy diet. Some Chinchilla feed includes raisins as part of the mix. Fresh vegetables (with high moisture content) should be avoided as these can cause bloat in a chinchilla, which can be fatal. Chinchillas also eat and drink in very small amounts, therefore, overfeeding is easy. This can lead to diarrhea, or in the long term, diabetes. Nuts should be avoided due to their high fat content.

In scientific research

Because the chinchilla range of hearing (20 Hz to 30 kHz) is close to that of a human and the chinchilla cochlea is fairly easy to access, it is often used as an animal model in researching the auditory system. Other research fields in which chinchilla is used as an animal model include study of Chagas disease, Gastrointestinal diseases, Pneumonia, Listeriosis, as well as of Yersinia and Pseudomonas infections.

See also

• Viscacha

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Bennett, E.T. (1835). "On the Chinchillidae, a family of herbivorous Rodentia, and on a new genus referrible [sic] to it". Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 1: 35–64.

Energy metabolism and thermoregulation in Chinchilla brevicaudata Arturo Cortés Carlos Tiradoa and Mario Rosenmann Journal of Thermal Biology Volume 28, Issues 6-7, August-October 2003, Pages 489-495

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2001a. Chinchillidae Bennett, 1833 ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.: 584574. Retrieved August 20, 2008.

• Honeycutt, R. L. 2004. Viscachas and chinchillas. Pages 377-384 in B. Grzimek, D. G. Kleiman, V. Geist, and M. C. McDade, eds., Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale. ISBN 0787657921.

2001. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=584613 Chinchilla Bennett, 1829 Taxonomic Serial No.: 584613

Myers, P. 2000. "Chinchillidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed August 20, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chinchillidae.html.

weight {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} (mean: 412 g (14.5 oz)) and females weigh 379–450 g (13.4–15.9 oz) (mean: 422 g (14.9 oz)).

Wilcox, H. N. (1950). "Histology of the skin and hair of the adult chinchilla". Anatomical Record 108: 385–397. doi:10.1002/ar.1091080304. PMID 14799877.

<ref> Wilcox, H. N. (1950). Histology of the skin and hair of the adult chinchilla. Anatomical Record 108: 385–397.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to:

Chinchilla

• Save the Wild Chinchillas - An organization dedicated to preserving wild chinchilla populations.

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