Chinchillas

• Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
• Order: Rodentia (Rodents)
• Family: Chinchillidae (Chinchillas and Viscachas)

  There are about 6 species in this family which is found only in South America. All species have dense, beautiful fur, and the importance of the Chinchillas, in particular, to the fur trade has led to their becoming relatively endangered as a wild species.
  The hind limbs of the Chinchillidae are longer than their forelimbs, and the animals are good at running and leaping; they are also good climbers. They feed on plants, including roots and tubers, and their cheek teeth grow throughout life. Social animals, they live in small family groups which are part of larger colonies. Where the ground is suitable, they dig burrows, but otherwise they shelter under rocks.

• body: 22.5 - 38 cm (8 3/4 - 15 in)
• tail: 7.5 - 15 cm (3 - 6 in)

Chinchillas are attractive animals, with long ears, large eyes and bushy tails. They live in colonies of 100 or more, sheltering in holes and crevices in rocks. They feed on available vegetation, sitting up to eat and holding their fod in their front paws.
Female chinchillas are larger than males and are agressive toward one another. They breed in winter, usually producing two litters of 1 - 6 young. the gestation period is 111 days, and the young are suckled for 6 - 8 weeks.
The Chinchilla's exceedingly soft, dense coat is the cause of it's present extreme rarity in the wild, although it is now farmed all over the world for it's valuable fur.