Animal House research

Chinchilla

Texture/Appearance

- The chinchilla is a small member of the rodent family covered with grey fur. This fur is
incredibly dense with up to 60 hairs growing from one follicle.
- They are named for the long tail which is incredibly bushy and covered with thick fur. The long
tail helps with keeping them stable when moving.
- On the broad head is a large pair of ears which have a black tip. This has less fur and when they
are warm they will send extra blood to the ears to help cool them. Their large eyes are black with
a split vertical pupil.
- Their teeth grow throughout their life and are colored dark orange. These need to be worn down
as if they become overgrown the long-tailed chinchilla will no longer be able to eat.
- The feet have no fur on the foot pads which are used to help them climb. This is assisted by four
maneuverable toes.

Characteristics
Chinchillas have a very thick coat of fur that was originally a blue-gray in color; however, today
chinchillas have been bred with coats that are black, gray, white, beige, and combinations of each. Their
thick fur not only keeps them warm, it also protects them from fleas, lice, and predators. Chinchillas have
a rounded body, large mouse-like ears, short legs, and a long tail. A mature chinchilla’s weight ranges
from 1 to 1.5 pounds. Females are usually larger than males. They can grow to be 10 inches long, with a
tail that can add another 6 inches when they fully mature. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 15
years, although some have lived as long as 20 years in captivity.

Type of food

- Chinchilla are omnivores

- Most of their diet is made up of seeds, nuts, leaves, grasses and other plant material. They will
also feed on insects and eggs.
- Constant access to clean drinking water from a drinking bottle, checked twice daily. Without
water chinchillas can become seriously ill.
 - When eating they will sit upright and hold the food in their forefeet.

Sleeping area

- Chinchillas are nocturnal, or active at night.

- Chinchillas are crepuscular. This means they are incredibly active at dusk and dawn. Outside of
these times, your chinchilla will sleep often.
- Chinchillas sleep between 12 to 16 hours per day and stay all day in the house and will only come
out to drink or urinate.
- chinchillas remain alert and can quickly be woken up by any type of noise.
- Chinchilla sleep in hideaways is similar to a hamster house and can be made out of plastic or
unfurnished wood. It has to be located at the darkest place in the chinchilla cage.
- They are very social and live in colonies that consist of hundreds of chinchillas.

Threats and protection

- The natural predators of the long tailed chinchilla include foxes, cougars, snakes, hawks and
owls.
- When threatened by a predator they can release a clump of fur allowing them to escape the grip of
the predator.
- They face food competition from cattle and goats.
- Humans impact their population through poaching both for the pet trade and for their fur.

Activities

- Easy access to the things they need - such as space to jump and run, safe hiding and resting
places, a dust bath, water and food.
- chinchillas are sociable, so they'll need opportunities to interact with friendly chinchillas and
people. You should house them together with one or more friendly chinchillas.
- chinchillas are active animals and need regular exercise to stay fit and healthy.
- chinchillas are very agile and love to climb, providing creative options in their cages. Some
options include sitting platforms of different heights, ladders, large blocks of wood or bricks,
perches, branches, and fabric hammocks.
Movement
Like all chinchillas, the soles of their feet aren't furry and they have fleshy foot pads called pallipes. Their
forefeet have four easily maneuverable toes, which they use for grasping. Both sets of feet have weak
claws. Their well-developed hind limbs are longer than their forelimbs. Members of this family often
jump bipedally, but mostly they move on all four limbs.

Social Structure
Chinchillas live in colonies consisting of a few individuals to hundreds. Female chinchillas, the dominant
sex, are very aggressive toward one another and toward males during estrus. Despite this aggressiveness,
serious fights rarely happen. Chinchillas express threats through growling, chattering their teeth and
urinating.