Chinchilla description - habitat, appearance, size, weight. Chinchilla at home - is it worth getting such a rodent? Where does the chinchilla live

Many people have chinchillas as pet, others breed them massively, when crossing, getting either the color of one of the main breeds, or a unique color. This article provides information about the appearance of chinchillas, the main breeds and the rules for breeding rodents.

There are only two types of chinchillas: small long-tailed and large, they differ from each other in the size of body parts. Long-tailed chinchillas are the most common species, so further external description will apply to him. Their historical habitat is the Andes.

Rodent incisors have the function of biting off food particles. Indigenous, as in humans, it is customary to divide into molars and premolars. Their sizes can reach 12 mm. The first are large teeth, and they are located on the back of the jaw. They perform the function of mechanical processing of food, grinding. Between the incisors and premolars there is also a special gap - the diastema. Chinchillas have only one set of teeth for life.

You will find out what are early signs pregnancy in a chinchilla, the rules for feeding females during this period, how to prepare a cage for the birth of babies and help the chinchilla herself during childbirth.

Chinchilla colors

The color of an ordinary individual - gray-blue with white patches in the belly area. Moreover, in the long-tailed representatives of this family, the saturation of the color and the length of the colored part may vary by nature. There are only 9 main colors of chinchilla fur, and as a result of selection, this number grows to 150 different new shades. The usual gray color can vary from a darkish to a light shade. Naturally, interbreeding gray color will not give you a new, unique shade, but this hybrid is no less important and valuable than the rest. Ordinary grayish chinchillas allow you to bring to new level fur properties and body dimensions of other individuals. Their number in good breeders is about 10%.

Main breeds

Fur color black (dark) velvet was introduced in the 1960s. The main color of these animals is black. In addition, there are distinguishable lines on the paws. The darker the color of the fur, the better it is.

Chinchilla color "black velvet"

Also, when selecting for breeding an animal of this subspecies, special attention should be paid to the shape of the muzzle and ears. For the first, it is better to choose a semicircular shape, for the second - small, round ones. This does not affect the quality of the fur, but it will add the aesthetic beauty of this individual and its selected offspring.

Wilson white (Wilson white) was originally a coffee-cream color scheme, but over time acquired various colors from snow-white to silver. Yellowness reduces the demand for products made from this fur.

Color white velvet obtained by crossing a pair of representatives of the above described colors. At of this type dull spots on the head, white color of the back.

Chinchilla color "white velvet"

Beige color saw the world through a random mutation. A skilled breeder managed not only to save the resulting individual, but also to distribute it among chinchilla lovers. hallmark for them is the ears of coral color and reddish irises.

For homobeige color characterized by the presence of exclusively beige type genes. They stand out from the Hetero-Beiges by having a very brilliant back color with a light coral tint, with creamy lilac ears and lavender eyes. Both subspecies have a white abdomen.

Color brown (hazel) velvet appears to be a hybridization of beige and black velvet. The presence of a pair of dominant genes belonging to the parents is characteristic. The color of the eyes and ears is from a beige representative, the lines of the paws are black. The shade of the fur varies from woody to chocolate.

Chinchilla color "brown velvet"

White and pink chinchillas also have two dominant traits and a lethal allele, that is, a recessive deadly gene. Color is pinkish or smoky. Eye color from light coral to brick. There is a chance of them having brown spots, which is very much appreciated.

Velvet white-pink- quite a valuable and unique color scheme. The color of the back is white, there are brown stripes on the paws, purple ears, burgundy eyes.

Male color "white-pink velvet"

Video - Examples of chinchilla colors

The nuances of crossing chinchillas of the main breeds

In this section, we describe the features of crossing chinchillas. It must be remembered that family ties between chinchillas should be avoided, as this will lead to degeneration of the breed. The results of most known crosses are presented in the table.

When breeding gray chinchillas, they are used to improve the physical parameters of other individuals: fur density, body weight. Breeders are advised to keep 7-10% of the entire population of high quality representatives of this species.

Chinchilla "black velvet" breakfast

It is worth refusing to hybridize a pair of chinchillas of the velvet gene, since it is not necessary to cross two representatives of black velvet color, because there is a high probability of the absence of offspring or its non-viability. Hybridization with snow-white Wilson gives a shade of snow-white velvet, with heterobeige - coffee velvet, with purple in 2 steps - purple velvet, with sapphire, also in 2 steps - sapphire velvet.

From the Wilsonian snow-white chinchilla, snow-white, silver, mosaic chinchillas are obtained with a similar probability. Representatives of this species, like dark velvet, have a deadly gene, therefore it is not recommended to cross two individuals of the same species. Snow-white velvet is not suitable for further selection, because it inherited 2 lethal genes from its parents. The most successful choice for crossing will be a homo- or hetero-beige chinchilla.

Individuals of beige color are successful for selection. They give offspring with 2 dominant genes. Hybridization with black velvet produces brown velvet , and with snow-white Wilson - pink-white. Beige chinchillas can be crossed with any other. Moreover, it is possible to get a chocolate or smoky color by crossing them with representatives endowed with the ebony gene. One of the manifestations of this gene is a painted abdomen. The degree of color of the abdomen is proportional to the degree of dominance of this gene, so that the less colored the abdomen, the weaker the gene in this individual. It also adds shine to the coat. It is better to combine individuals with the ebony gene with carriers of the same gene to preserve the quality of the fur in the offspring (the ebony gene tends to reduce its influence when crossing).

Homobeige individuals are obtained as a result of crossing two homobeige, two heterobeige, or hetero- and homobeige. This color is very much appreciated by breeders, because it makes it possible to avoid the appearance of ordinary gray cubs. When homobeige individuals are hybridized with ordinary ones, they are heterobeige, with black velvet - brown velvet or heterobeige, with heterobeige - homo- or heterobeige.

Brown velvet, when hybridized with individuals with the ebony gene, makes it possible to obtain a velvet pastel. It is noticeable in the color of the fur of the cubs in the form of a coffee or smoky shade with a painted belly. Also, the result of crossing these subspecies can be a rare young generation with the presence of beige and velvet genes.

Fur shade - velvet pastel

When combining white-pink and beige chinchillas, homozygous white-pink are obtained. Their feature have ears of a soft brown hue and clear eyes. The lethal gene is present. Can be crossed with regular or dark velvet. In the case of hybridization with the second, up to 8 different combinations can be obtained!

Velvety white-pink has 4 sets of genes from white, beige, gray and velvet counterparts at once. However, when looking for a pair for crossing, it is worth considering the presence of a pair of lethal genes in him at once. good choice can become homo- and heterobeige individuals.

The nuances of crossing minor breeds

individuals snow white ebony They have black and white fur. The degree of saturation of a particular color varies, for example, the main color is white, and black represents only partial blotches on the fur, color of the eyes, ears. White ebony has a lethal gene. This color is derived by crossing white hetero- and homoebony. It is not recommended to hybridize it with representatives of white flowers.

The representatives of the color velvet pastel the color of the back is bronze-brown, velvety lines on the paws. The eyes are mostly brick-colored or a shade close to it. This color is derived by crossing pastels with brown velvet or velvet ebony. When hybridizing velvet pastels and pastels, there is a chance to get rare and valuable cubs with a beautiful chocolate-velvet shade of fur.

Homoebony is now considered the most interesting of the breeding colors. Its color is completely black, but perfectly black individuals are very rare and very expensive. Homoebony is usually bred together with hetero. Cubs are obtained with beautiful fur. There is also a chance to get a homobeige, chocolate brown, lilac individual.

Chinchilla color "homoebony"

heteroebony in turn, they breed better than homo. The coat color can vary from light to dark. The light hybrid has additional white hairs on the tail. You can get it after crossing a homoebony with a gray chinchilla.

Chinchilla color "heteroebony"

Violet (lilac) fur color. The back shimmers with purple tones. Breeders settle standard gray animals with these animals, which are carriers of the purple gene. This method allows you not to lose the quality of the fur.

To get the purple velvet color, you need to go through 2 steps:

1. Hybridization of representatives of black velvet and purple.
2. After that, the resulting individuals are re-crossed with purple.

The fur of this subspecies is purple, darker than that of the common lilac chinchilla.

At the end I would like to mention sapphire color. The fur in this case comes in different shades of blue. Crossing one or a pair of sapphire representatives results in cubs of the same color.

Video - Features of breeding diamond chinchillas

Chinchillas are small rodent animals native to South America. Their habitat is the highlands of the South American Andes. Currently in wild nature There are very few chinchillas left; these animals were hunted for their fur, as a result of which the species is on the verge of extinction. Since the middle of the last century, chinchillas have been bred by amateurs as pets.

The chinchilla was first described by the English zoologist Edward Bennett in 1829.

Chinchilla - description and external characteristics

In appearance, the chinchilla resembles a large squirrel (they weigh from 300 to 800 g, and the males are smaller than the females), and in terms of the way they move, they are more like a rabbit. They have a very thick, fine and soft coat, large dark eyes and large ears. Ears - the only organ of chinchillas that allows you to reduce body temperature - they are covered with a dense network of capillaries.

The body length of chinchillas is from 22 to 38 cm, the tail is 10-17 cm. The hind legs are longer than the front ones, due to which their movement resembles rabbit jumps. Number of fingers: on the hind limbs - four, and on the front - five. The front paws can make grasping movements.

The number of teeth reaches 20, and they grow throughout life. Therefore, it is very important for chinchillas to be able to chew on something.

Baby chinchillas have teeth white color, but in adult animals they acquire Orange color.

What are the types of chinchillas?

Chinchillas are of two types:

• The short-tailed chinchilla is a rare and almost extinct species. It is the short-tailed chinchilla that has the most valuable fur.
• Long-tailed chinchilla - still found in small groups in the wild. It was this chinchilla that became the well-known domestic animal.

Chinchillas in the wild are found in the dry mountainous regions of Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. In these zones, the temperature in summer does not exceed +24 C o, and in winter it drops to -20 C o. The climate is dry, windy and cold. It is thanks to such living conditions that chinchillas have very valuable and thick fur.

Vegetation in the area where wild chinchillas live is quite scarce. Mostly cacti, shrubs, some cereals and herbs grow there. Such habitat conditions affected the diet of these animals. Their incredibly long intestine allows them to excrete nutrients from scarce food. In an adult animal, the length of the small and large intestines reaches 3.5 m. Wild chinchillas feed only plant food: branches and bark of shrubs, succulents, dry herbs and leaves.

Chinchillas live in groups and lead night image life. Up to hundreds of animals can live in one group. During the day, they hide in natural hiding places, such as crevices in rocks or in burrows dug by other animals. To protect against predators, the colony always has "observers" who warn the whole family of the danger with loud sounds.

Chinchillas are nocturnal animals, their large eyes and long sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) allow them to move unmistakably in the dark.

IN natural conditions chinchillas form pairs. They produce one offspring per year. There are usually 2-4 cubs in a litter.

Unfortunately, at present the number of wild animals is very small, only about ten thousand. In 2008, the long-tailed chinchilla was declared critically endangered. And the short-tailed chinchilla, unfortunately, is an endangered species.

How many years do chinchillas live in the wild?

Approximately, wild chinchillas live for about five years.

Chinchillas feed on various herbaceous plants, mosses, cereals and legume plant, as well as shrubs, cacti, tree bark, as well as insects.

Chinchilla breeding

Chinchillas reach sexual maturity at eight months of age. When possible, they form monogamous pairs. Pregnancy lasts quite a long time - 105 - 110 days, so females can give birth no more than two to three times a year. Usually 2-4 almost fully developed babies are born. They have open eyes, erupted teeth, they are completely covered with hair and are able to move independently.

What sounds do chinchillas make?

In nature, chinchillas live in groups and have developed a way of communicating with sounds. Their range ranges from a soft and quiet rumbling to a sharp whistle:

• mating rumble calls of the male for mating;
• the squeak of babies is a demand for attention from the mother or food;
• protest - sharp sounds that chinchillas make during a quarrel or warning of danger;
• chinchillas make very sharp and high-pitched sounds in a rage, in a state of severe fright or when they feel pain.

Chinchillas are extremely mobile animals, they love to jump, run and play. Life expectancy in captivity depends on how they are kept. How long can a chinchilla live at home? If you are attentive to nutrition, keep animals in a spacious cage, give them the opportunity to communicate and move, then they can live long enough: eight to ten years or more.

Character

By nature, chinchillas are very affectionate and tame, they almost never bite. The animal can bite only in a state of strong fright. All chinchillas are different, some like to be caressed, while others do not, and these qualities of character must be respected. What chinchillas do not tolerate is violence. In order to achieve mutual understanding with the animal, you need to show patience and perseverance, to respect the peculiarities of his character and behavior.

After acquiring a chinchilla, you need to leave it alone for about a week, let it settle in a new place. Then, non-persistently, you need to stretch out your hand to her with a treat. If the chinchilla wants to, she will come up herself, take a treat and climb into her arms. If not, you need to continue to tame it day by day until the animal gets used to you.

A chinchilla may be offended if left alone for a long time or simply do not pay attention to it. She will not want to play with you and will not even take a treat from your hands.

Chinchillas are very good at manipulating their owners. They know exactly what needs to be done to get what they want: they will sit in a corner and look at you with sad eyes, or they will jump on their hind legs to get a treat or go for a walk around the room.

Is it possible to teach a chinchilla to go to the tray

Chinchillas are very smart and learn quickly. It is very easy to teach them to go to the tray: put it in the cage in the place where the animal usually goes to the toilet, while you need to remove all the bedding and wipe the floor of the cage with lemon. Chinchilla will immediately understand what needs to be done.

Tray

The second way: to allow the animal to first go to the toilet on the entire bedding at the bottom of the cage, but gradually reducing it every day. When a small patch remains, replace it with a small tray. The main thing is to change the bedding every day so that the cage is always dry.

Chinchilla color

The natural color of chinchillas is gray, but not uniform, they have a dark back and a white tummy. Color can vary in saturation from light gray to almost black.

Numerous color variations have been bred by amateurs: white, black, beige, brown and others. There are also purple chinchillas, although their color is not quite purple, but gray with a bluish or light purple tint. In total, there are about 240 different shades of color of domestic chinchillas.

Golden color

How to tell a male from a female chinchilla

Despite the fact that males are usually smaller than females, it is quite difficult to distinguish them from each other. In nature, females are larger and more aggressive than males, but at home they practically do not differ in either behavior or color. The only way to determine the sex of an animal is to simply look at its genitals. In boys, the distance between the anus and the urethra is approximately 3-4 mm, while in girls there is no such pronounced gap.

Chinchillas are rather delicate animals, and their diet at home must be selected very carefully. What do chinchillas eat? The main food for them is dry hay (it must be properly dried, with a pleasant smell of herbs).

Fresh, quality hay should always be in the cage. If there is not enough hay, the animal may die.

In addition to hay, the chinchilla is fed with special feeds, and as complementary foods, cereal flakes, dried leaves, herbs or roots, corn and flax seeds, dried pieces of vegetables are suitable. These animals are happy to gnaw on branches. fruit trees and bushes: apple, cherry, raspberry or currant. The main thing is that everything is dry and does not contain moisture.

Chinchillas need to be given water. Make sure the water is always fresh.

A responsible attitude to the selection of food for chinchillas prolongs their life, more than half of the animals die prematurely from intestinal disorders.

Reproduction at home

For breeding at home, they take a male and female chinchilla aged at least eight months and weighing at least 500 g. Before giving birth, it is advisable to transplant the male in order to allow the female to calmly give birth to babies and relax.

Content at home

At home, keeping chinchillas and caring for them is not difficult. But there are some important conditions that must be adhered to. Chinchillas need spacious, wide cages, preferably tall, cage-like, they are very active and need to move a lot. For one animal, a cage of the following sizes is suitable: 100 cm high, 80 cm long and 50 cm wide.

Chinchillas like to climb to heights, so it is advisable to give them this opportunity by installing wooden shelves in the cage. Ladders are not needed to connect the floors, since chinchillas love to jump very much. In addition to shelves, it is desirable to install in a cage: a spacious wooden house, hammocks, tunnels and a running wheel.

Chewing toys are also needed. It can be: small branches, wooden blocks, salt or chalk stone.

When choosing a cage, pay attention to the presence of plastic parts, they should not be in the cage, because. chinchillas gnaw and eat everything, and plastic can cause intestinal obstruction and death of the animal.

In addition, the chinchilla needs to be released from the cage for a couple of hours a day, but at the same time it must be observed, since they love to gnaw on everything that comes their way, including wires and furniture.

The bottom of the cage can be left clean, without filler, and in the corner of the cage you can install a tray where the chinchilla will go to the toilet.

A container of sand can be placed in and next to the cage several times a week. You do not need to leave it for a long time, because too much bathing in chinchillas can dry out the skin.

If there is no filler at the bottom of the cage, then every day the cage should be swept with a small broom, removing excrement. It is advisable to wipe the shelves daily with natural detergents.

Chinchilla health

A healthy adult animal should weigh at least 500 g. You also need to pay attention to the color of the teeth. If the teeth begin to turn white, losing their orange color, this is the first sign of calcium deficiency. Fur should be smooth and shiny.

People often ask if a chinchilla needs special care. Special care is not needed, but it is better to consult a veterinarian if you notice that your animal:

• refuses to eat;
• lethargic and passive;
• tumbles to the side.

In the room where the animal lives, the air temperature should not be higher than 26 degrees. Heat air can cause heatstroke in a chinchilla.

There is nothing surprising in the popularity of chinchillas - this cute animal lives for about 20 years, loves active games and does not need special maintenance (except perhaps in a large spacious cage). He also looks very funny! To make it easier for you to choose the perfect friend for yourself, we have collected photos of all types of chinchillas in one article.

Two main types of chinchillas

Found in the wild:

• small longtail, she is a coastal chinchilla. The body size is 22-40 cm, and the luxurious fluffy tail reaches 17 cm in length, giving the animal a resemblance to a squirrel. The ears are large and rounded, the eyes are dark and expressive.

• Large or short-tailed chinchilla. Larger, has a thick neck, short powerful legs and a short tail.

For home breeding, the first species, long-tailed chinchillas, is most often used.

The natural color of wild animals is gray-blue, the abdomen is lighter. It is thanks to this color of fur that rodents manage to hide between stones, hiding from the watchful eyes of predators.

As a result of natural mutations and painstaking work of breeders, about 200 species of chinchillas were obtained. Some of them have a uniform coat color, others have specks. We will tell you about the main and most interesting ones.

The main colors of chinchillas

There are 8 basic colors:

• Natural grey.
• White.
• Heterozygous beige.
• Homozygous beige.
• Sapphire.
• Ebony.
• Violet.
• Carbonic.

Standard gray or natural- natural wild color from which all others are derived. The hair is very dyed in an interesting way: the root part is bluish-gray, the middle is white, and the tip is dark.

White chinchillas are divided into several subspecies - here are albinos with a perfectly snow-white skin and bright red eyes, and white recessive ones, among which there is a spotted color, and white dominant ones with a beautiful silvery or yellowish tint.

Heterozygousbeige. The color of the coat is dark beige, with a tint of lavender or chocolate and a pronounced veil.

Homozygous beige. The coat is lighter, with a white or almost white bottom. The eyes of representatives of both beige colors are red.

Sapphire. Deep grey-blue coat and light belly. The eyes are pale pink. Sapphire chinchillas are usually noticeably smaller than the rest.

ebony. There are homozygous and heterozygous. In the former, the fur is very dark, the color of a black wing, in the latter, the sides and tummy may be slightly lighter.

Violet. Very beautiful view with a dark purple back, gray sides and a light tummy.

Carbonic. Deep black, no light stripe, and brownish tint is considered unacceptable. The eyes of representatives of this species are also completely black.

And other interesting colors

Unfortunately, we will not be able to tell about all 200 species in one material, so we will limit ourselves to a few more beautiful colors of chinchillas.

Black velvet. One of the most popular options is that the back, head and neck are jet black, while the tummy is white. The fur is very soft and elastic. The color of these unusual animals is also called artillery velvet or velveteen.

Brownvelvet. Obtained by crossing black velvet and homozygous beige. These animals have long fluffy fur of a rich brown hue.

White-pink. Very interesting view- fur is snow-white with a pale pink veil. They are also called apple trees.

A feature of all chinchillas, regardless of coat color, is an amazing charming appearance, playfulness and soft thick coat. And which view did you like the most?

The common chinchilla (other names are coastal chinchilla, small long-tailed chinchilla) is a species of rodent belonging to the chinchilla family. A very rare species in the wild, found only in the Andean highlands in Chile.
The chinchilla is an active rodent with a large tail, expressive eyes and long whiskers that help the animal find food and navigate in the dark. hairline represented by thick and long fur. A warm coat protects chinchillas from cold and sudden temperature fluctuations in natural environment a habitat.

Representatives of this species live mainly in the Andes in South America. Most often they inhabit rocks, where there are ready-made shelters - rock crevices. In areas where there are none, chinchillas dig holes for themselves. They are remarkably adapted to the way of life in mountainous regions. Thanks to well-developed sense organs, these nocturnal animals perfectly orient themselves at the time of their greatest activity, i.e. during the dark hours of the day. Interesting feature chinchilla skeleton: it has the ability to compress vertically, which allows them to effortlessly penetrate the narrow loopholes between the stones. Not much is known about the features of the life of these rodents in the wild. Zoologists studied their behavior mainly in artificially created conditions.

All external data that chinchillas are endowed with serve to ensure their normal existence in freedom. Large locator ears are able to catch the slightest sounds, providing an opportunity to know in advance about the approach of any danger, vibrissae whiskers replace the animal's eyesight - with their help, chinchillas explore surrounding objects and even measure distances. The representatives of this species have a very well developed cerebellum, so they can move around the mountains without much difficulty. The reaction speed of chinchillas compensates for weak, monocular vision (surrounding objects and objects that fall into the field of view are mainly perceived with one eye). However, they are endowed with the ability to see in the dark.

The length of the body of a chinchilla ranges from 20 to 40 cm, the ears reach 6 cm, and the mustache can be up to 10 cm long. The average weight of males is 369-493 g, and females - 379-450 g. At home, animals are larger than in the wild and have greater sexual dimorphism (anatomical differences between females and males of the same species), with a weight of females up to 800 g and males up to 600 g. The hind limbs of chinchillas, which have four fingers, are almost twice as long as the front ones, on which there are five grasping fingers.

Chinchilla habitats in nature do not have a wide variety of diets. They feed on plants that grow in the mountains. In addition, mosses, lichens, tree bark and various cacti, and at best they manage to catch small coma.

Chinchilla acquires the ability to give birth at about the age of six months. The number of births per year varies from 2 to 3 times, and the average number of cubs born is 2-3, and in rare cases- 5 small chinchillas. The period of bearing offspring lasts up to 3-3.5 months. Within a week after birth, the young are able to feed on their own, and at the age of 1.5-2 months they can begin an independent life.

In the wild, chinchillas are monogamous, that is, in most cases they create a stable pair, but in artificial conditions this factor is practically not taken into account. During pregnancy, the female is very restless, so it is advisable not to disturb her once again. Cubs are born sighted, with short hair and erupted teeth.

Unfortunately, chinchillas are bred not only for pleasure, but also for quite practical purposes - for example, as a source of fur, which is by far the most expensive. Of course, it is very upsetting that these cute animals often become objects of destruction, because there are not so many of them left in nature.

Do not confuse the small long-tailed chinchilla with another type of chinchilla - short-tailed (large). It is long-tailed chinchillas that are popular as pets.

natural habitat

Chinchillas are native to South America. Short-tailed chinchillas live in the Andes of southern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Chile. The long-tailed chinchilla is now found only in a limited area of ​​the Cordillera in northern Chile. Approximately half of the entire wild population is in fenced reserves, about 5000 individuals live in private, unprotected areas.

Natural habitat of chinchillas - desert uplands, rocky areas at an altitude of 300 to 5000 meters above sea level. Chinchillas settle in niches between stones, rock crevices, small caves, preferring the northern slopes; in the absence of natural shelters, they dig holes on their own.

Biology

The biology of chinchillas in natural habitats has been little studied; basic data on behavior, reproduction, and physiology are obtained in artificial conditions. Most of the data refer to long-tailed chinchillas due to their massive captive breeding.

The head of the chinchilla is rounded, the neck is short. The body length is 22-38 cm, the tail is 10-17 cm long and is covered with stiff guard hairs. Chinchillas are characterized by sexual dimorphism: Females are larger than males and can weigh up to 800 grams; the weight of males usually does not exceed 700 grams. Chinchillas are adapted to nightlife: large black eyes with vertical pupils, long (8-10 cm) vibrissae, large rounded ears (5-6 cm). The chinchilla's skeleton is able to compress in a vertical plane, which allows the animals to penetrate narrow cracks in the rocks. The forelimbs are five-fingered, four grasping fingers and one little used. The hind limbs are four-fingered, one finger is turned back. The strong hind limbs are twice as long as the forelimbs and allow high jumps, while the strongly developed cerebellum provides good coordination of movements necessary for safe movement on the rocks. Chinchilla Brevicaudata differs in larger size, broad head, small bluish ears and short tail.

Chinchillas are omnivores. Their diet is based on various herbaceous plants, mainly cereals, legumes, also seeds, mosses, lichens, shrubs, tree bark, small insects.

Fur

Chinchilla has very valuable fur.

Teeth

The general composition and structure of the teeth of chinchillas are characteristic of many rodents. Chinchillas have 20 permanent teeth. There is one incisor in each half of the jaw ( Dens incisivus, I), all four incisors are covered with dark orange enamel. Fangs ( Canini) are not developed. Then in each half of the jaw follows one small molar - premolar ( Praemolar, P) and three molars ( Molar, M). The right and left half-jaws are mirror-symmetrical, so only one side is usually depicted. All teeth are rootless and grow throughout life.

reproduction

Chinchilla cubs (one and a half months old)

Chinchillas are mostly monogamous. mating season takes place between November and May in the northern hemisphere and between May and November in the southern hemisphere. The female usually brings two litters a year, 1-5 (usually 2-3) cubs in each. Pregnancy of a long-tailed chinchilla lasts from 110 to 118 days (short-tailed - 128 days). Chinchillas are born well developed, with open eyes. They are completely covered with fur and weigh up to 70 grams. The lactation period lasts 6-8 weeks, at about 2 weeks from birth, chinchillas begin to try adult food (hay first). Young individuals reach sexual maturity by about 8 months, some chinchillas rare colors ripen later than the peers of the standard or beige colour. Chinchillas bring offspring for 8 years, their life expectancy in natural conditions is about 10 years, and at home it can be more than 20 years.

Story

The name chinchillas was given by the Spaniards, who first arrived in South America in 1524. Word " Chinchilla" literally means "little Chincha" and comes from the name of the Indian tribe Chincha (may also sound like "Hinha"), whose representatives wore clothes made from chinchilla skins. This tribe was later conquered by the Incas, who also highly valued the fur of chinchillas. Clothes were made from their fur and wool, which were considered an attribute of the highest nobility, in addition, the meat of these animals was used as a remedy for tuberculosis. Under the Incas, hunting for chinchillas was strictly limited. As a result, by the beginning of the European conquest of South America, chinchillas were widespread in the western part of the mainland. With the advent of the Spanish conquerors, the rate of trapping of animals increased sharply, the extraction and export of skins was constantly growing.

Export of chinchilla skins from Chile:

The high popularity of this fur at the turn of the 20th century led to the almost complete extermination of chinchillas in the wild. In 1929, a ban was imposed on catching chinchillas. To date, the number of wild chinchillas is slowly recovering, although this species is still under threat.

Breeding in captivity

Artificial feeding of a baby chinchilla

Female and male Chinchilla in a cage.

The founder of captive breeding of chinchillas was the American engineer Matthias F. Chapman. In 1919, he began searching for wild chinchillas, which by that time were extremely rare. He and 23 hired hunters for 3 years were able to catch 11 chinchillas, of which only three were females. In 1923, Chapman managed to obtain permission from the Chilean government to export chinchillas. He managed to adapt chinchillas to the flat climate and transport them to San Pedro (California). These animals became the ancestors of a new type of artificially bred fur-bearing animals. In the late 20s, the number of chinchillas increased annually by 35%, in the early 30s - by 65%. In the 50s, chinchilla farms existed in most developed countries. Since the beginning of the 90s, there has been a trend of keeping chinchillas as pets.

Literature

• Burton, J. 1987. The Collins Guide to the Rare Mammals of the World. The Stephen Greene Press, Lexington, MA.
• Grzimek, B. 1975. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.
• Jimenez, J. 1995. The Extirpation and Current Status of Wild Chinchillas, Chinchilla lanigera and C. brevicaudata. Biological Conservation 77:1-6.
• Nowak, R. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th Ed., Vol II. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.