Chinchilla

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The chinchilla is a rodent that lives in colonies high in the Andes mountains of western South America. Chinchillas make their dens in rock crevasses and in burrows. This little mammal can jump 6 feet straight up. The scientific names of chinchillas are Chinchilla lanigera and C. brevicaudata. Few chinchillas remain in the wild (the are an endangered species!" but chinchillas are common in captivit . A few chinchillas were brought to the #nited States in $%&'( almost all the chinchillas in captivit are their descendants. Chinchillas are raised for their soft fur" which is used for clothing. Chinchillas have a life span of $) to &* ears in captivit but onl + to $* ears in the wild. Diet, Chinchillas are primaril herbivores (plant-eaters!( the eat tree bark" grasses" seed" fruit" grain" and herbs. .ccasionall " the will eat insects. /ike all rodents" their two front teeth continue to grow throughout their lives" and the chinchilla must gnaw and chew to wear these teeth down. 0n a sitting position" chinchillas gnaw on their food while holding the food in their hands. The do not drink much water. Anatomy, Chinchillas range from % to $) inches (&'-'+ cm! long plus a tail that is ' to 6 inches (+-$) cm!( the weigh from $+ to &+ ounces ()$*-+** g!. Females are larger than males. The blue-gra to brown-gra coat is e1tremel soft and dense( the fur is about an inch (&.) cm! long. The coat protects the chinchilla from the e1tremel cold weather of the high Andes and helps prevent

water evaporation. 2een sight and acute hearing warn the chinchilla of predators. Predators, .wls" fo1es" cougars" and mountain lions pre upon chinchillas. Reproduction, Females give birth to a litter of one to four oung. 3ewborns have hair" teeth" and open e es at birth. 3ewborns can eat plants at birth" but also drink their mother4s milk for about 6 weeks.