Chilean chinchilla, Coastal chinchilla, Common chinchilla, Lesser chinchilla, Chilean, Coastal, Common
The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera ), also called the Chilean, coastal, common, or lesser chinchilla, is one of two species of rodent from the genus Chinchilla : the other species being C. chinchilla. Both species are endangered in the wild after historically being hunted for their soft hair coats. Domestic breeds of chinchilla are believed to descend from specimens of C. lanigera. Domestic chinchillas come in three types: la plata, costina, and raton.
Historically, Chilean chinchillas were reported from Talca (35°30’S), Chile, north to Peru, and also eastward, from Chilean coastal hills, throughout low mountains. No fossils of the Chilean chinchilla are known to have been found, and by the mid-19th century, Chilean chinchillas were not found south of the Choapa River in central Chile. Wild populations of Chilean chinchillas, as of 1996, occurred in Aucó (31°38’S, 71°06’W), near Illapel, IV Región, Chile, in Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas and in La Higuera, Chile, about 100 km (62 mi) north of Coquimbo (29°33’S, 71°04’W).
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withLong-tailed chinchillas have long hair, with gray, white, and black bands; it is silky, extremely soft, and firmly adhered to the skin. The general color of their upper parts is bluish or silvery gray; the underparts are yellowish-white. The tail has long, coarse, gray and black hairs on its dorsal surface. Domesticated animals are larger than wild ones, with females being larger than males.
Long-tailed chinchillas are found in the mountains of northern Chile. They occur in Aucó, near Illapel, IV Región, Chile, in Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas and in La Higuera, north of Coquimbo. These chinchillas were reported from Talca, Chile, reaching north to Peru and eastward from Chilean coastal hills throughout low mountains. They inhabit barren, arid, and rugged areas of the mountain chains. Long-tailed chinchillas occur in rocky or sandy areas with a sparse cover of thorn shrubs, few herbs and forbs, and scattered cacti.
Long-tailed chinchillas are social animals. They live in colonies of more than 100 individuals. They are primarily nocturnal creatures but also can be seen on sunny days sitting in front of their hole, climbing and jumping on the rocks. Female in this species are dominant. They are very aggressive towards males and other females during the breeding time. When threatened Long-tailed chinchillas growl, chatter their teeth, and urinate.
Long-tailed chinchillas are herbivores (folivores). Their diet includes different types of vegetation, but mostly grass and seeds. They also eat insects and bird eggs. Domesticated chinchillas eat wheat, hay, alfalfa, corn, oats, and food pellets.
Female Long-tailed chinchillas are mostly monogamous. This means that they have only one mate during the breeding season. In the wild, they breed between October and December. Females usually have two litters per year, with 2-3 kits per litter. Gestation lasts around 111 days. Young are born well developed, fully furred, and have their eyes open. Females nurse their kits for 6-8 weeks. Long-tailed chinchillas become reproductively mature after 8 months of age.
Long-tailed chinchillas have been threatened for years by poaching, pet trade, hunting, mining, and firewood extraction. They also suffer from predation by foxes and owls, and compete with grazers such as goats and cattle. Additionally, these animals may be threatened by El Niño events ( a climate cycle in the Pacific Ocean that has a global impact on weather patterns).
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Long-tailed chinchillas is around 5,350 mature individuals. This species’ numbers are decreasing and it is currently classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...