How are chinchillas adapted to their habitat?
The chinchilla coat is extremely dense and soft (which is one reason they are hunted). This thick coat protects them from the chilling temperatures in the Andes. Also, chinchillas are coated in lanolin, which protects them from parasites. Chinchillas also adapted to the thick volcanic dust in their habitat.
Do chinchillas make good pets?
Chinchillas are great pets and can thrive given the right environment, diet and husbandry. They take a significant amount of chinchilla care but make up for it with their inquisitive and intelligent nature.
Why do people wear chinchilla fur?
The Chincha people often wore the fur of chinchillas to protect themselves from the elements. The word “chinchilla” literally translates as “little Chincha”. Chinchilla fur, in addition to being incredibly soft and dense, also produces very little dander making them hypoallergenic.
Can chinchillas survive in hot weather?
Chinchillas cannot tolerate high temperatures however. Any temperature above 27ºC or 80ºF or high levels of humidity, and they are at risk of heat stroke and death. In the wild, they have many predators including foxes, felines, owls, hawks and other birds of prey.
Why should we save chinchillas?
Save the Wild Chinchillas (SWC) works in Andean Chile to preserve highly sensitive arid habitat where wild chinchilla colonies survive. Save the Wild Chinchillas is an environmental conservation project. Its goal is to ensure that these endangered animals do not become extinct.
What are chinchillas used for?
Most chinchillas currently used by the fur industry for clothing and other accessories are farm-raised. Domestic chinchillas descended from C. lanigera are sometimes kept as pets, and may be considered a type of pocket pet.
What is the natural environment of a chinchilla?
They live on the rocky slopes of the Andes Mountains at elevations between 9 and 15 thousand feet. The land is arid, with sparse vegetation and plenty of rock cover. Chinchillas were once common along the entire western coastline of South America, but are now limited mainly to the countries of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.
What are good things about chinchillas?
Chinchillas are clean, quiet and attractive rodents that don't smell. They can live for 10-20 years, and they've been bred and farmed for their soft, dense fur. They're quite shy and are more appropriate as pets for adults and older children.
Why can't chinchillas get wet?
Chinchillas have dense fur that is not meant to get wet. Chinchillas are rodents that are originally from the Andes mountains in South America. They are tolerant to colder temperatures and enjoy lounging on pieces of cool granite, but they are also very sensitive to heat.
How many chinchillas are left in the world?
Today, wild chinchillas are found only in the mountains of northern Chile. The IUCN Red List's latest estimates put the wild population of adult chinchillas at 5,350 – and that number continues to decrease.
Are chinchillas endangered?
Not extinctChinchilla / Extinction status
Are chinchillas friendly?
Chinchillas are docile and friendly creatures if you are affectionate, too. They rarely bite and can learn to tolerate and eventually enjoy human companionship. However, they are less affectionate with young kids and novice owners in the first few weeks of adapting to their new surroundings.
How high can chinchillas jump?
6 feetNot only are chinchillas fast runners, but they can also leap up to 6 feet in the air. This is a great skill to have when evading predators in the wild. To put this height in perspective, the vertical jump record for a player in the NBA is 46.5 inches (just under 4 feet high) held by Jason Richardson.
Do chinchillas pee when they are scared?
Chins are easily startled by sudden loud or unfamiliar sounds, which is why they prefer to live in calm and quiet households. A startled chinchilla may even stand on its back legs and spray urine in the face of any potential threat!
What is the best animal to cuddle with?
8 Small Pets That Are Soft, Affectionate, and Perfect For CuddlingHamsters. Hamsters are naturally playful, but they're also extremely affectionate and love attention. ... Ferrets. ... Guinea Pigs. ... Lovebirds. ... Hedgehogs. ... Sugar Gliders. ... Chinchillas. ... Rabbits.
Are chinchillas clean animals?
GROOMING/CLEANING Chinchillas are naturally clean animals with very little odor. In their naturally dry environment, they clean themselves by taking dust baths a few times a week to absorb oil and dirt. Because of the density of chinchilla fur, do not bathe your chinchilla in water.
What is the softest animal on earth?
chinchillasConsidered the softest animal in the world, chinchillas have 80-100 hairs per hair follicle (hole that hair grows out of), where humans only have 1-2.
What is the softest animal in the whole world?
Fluffiest Animals: Chinchilla. A chinchilla's fur is considered the softest in the world: 30 times softer than human hair! This medium-sized rodent also evolved its fluffy fur to live in a harsh climate, this time the cold heights of the Andean mountains of western Chile.
Are chinchillas smarter than rats?
Between their memory, trainability, and hygiene practices, they are much wittier than some other animals out there. In general, they are much smarter than animals such as rabbits or squirrels.
Which animal has the warmest fur on earth?
The Arctic fox has the warmest pelt of any animal found in the Arctic, enduring temperatures as low as -70 °C. Once conditions get too cold, its metabolism increases to provide warmth.
What is a Chinchilla’s Natural Habitat?
So we now know that chinchillas are found in the Andes Mountains. But what exactly is their natural habitat?
What do chinchillas eat?
So chinchillas had to adapt to their surroundings. They consume the grass and shrubs found among the rocky terrain. Since their digestive system adapted to the available vegetation, they can’t easily digest foods high in fat or moisture. But they can survive on a simple diet of grass, hay , and water.
Why do chinchillas use volcanic dust?
They use the volcanic dust as a bath since their fur can’t get wet. Chinchillas can also release their fur if they are attacked. This handy adaptation helps them escape from predators. So, chinchillas adapted their thick coats to protect from the cold temperatures and predators in their natural habitat.
What animals are chinchillas scared of?
Owls, mountain lions, foxes, and snakes are some of the wild predators that chinchillas face. Although herds don’t fight predators, they can still help keep chinchillas safe. Living in a herd offers protection that a chinchilla won’t find alone.
Why do chinchillas burrow in the twilight?
By staying active during twilight, chinchillas avoid the hottest part of the day. They burrow before they sleep, so they can also hide from predators during this time.
How many chinchillas live in a herd?
Chinchillas burrow under rocks and in between crevices of this semi-desert terrain. Chinchillas are a social species. They live in herds of 14-100 chinchillas. Living in herds helps protect them from predators. “Look-out” chinchillas watch for other animals that share their natural habitat (mountain lions, birds, ...
Why do chinchillas have thick coats?
This thick coat protects them from the chilling temperatures in the Andes. Also, chinchillas are coated in lanolin, which protects them from parasites.
Why do chinchillas have trays?
Their cage cleaned regularly so urine/droppings don¿t accumulate. Many chinchilla cages have trays underneath a mesh floor to collect waste.
How do chinchillas damage their feet?
Chinchillas can damage their feet when spending long periods standing on wire mesh. Plenty of horizontal/vertical space to run/jump. Provide branches/solid platforms at different levels to rest/jump on. Avoid uninterrupted heights greater than 60cm to avoid potential injuries.
Where do chinchillas hide?
Housing in quiet/calm areas away from dogs/cats/ferrets/other pets. They¿re a prey species, needing to hide in secure places, away from sights/smells of predators. Chinchillas prefer routine; they¿re quite shy and easily stressed if their home is near noise/activity
Is it safe to feed chinchillas bedding?
Enough bedding to keep warm. Bedding should be safe if eaten, e.g. good quality, dust-free hay. They¿re more active in the evenings/at night, sleeping for long periods during the day. Don't give chinchillas nesting materials that separate into thin strands, e.g. cotton wool or similar 'fluffy' bedding products. They pose a serious risk to their health and welfare, due to the possibility of entanglement or ingestion.
Why is it important to pick a chinchilla?
When selecting your pair (or more) of chinchillas, it’s important to take into consideration the social patterns between the sexes. Both sexes can be aggressive towards animals of the same sex, unless they are raised together from birth. Most people typically choose to get a male and female pair.
Why are chinchillas so well acclimated to high elevations?
Chinchillas have thicker blood than most other rodents, with more red blood cells and therefore more oxygen. This is why they are so well acclimated to high elevations where the air is thinner. If a chinchilla mother is unable to produce milk, another female will often step in and raise the kits as her own.
What toys do chinchillas need?
Most pet stores will offer toys designed specifically for chinchillas. Toys can include wooden blocks, pumice stones, etc. Many chinchilla owners will also introduce a large wheel, similar to what a hamster would run on. Most chinchillas greatly enjoy them. Try to incorporate these items throughout the habitat and rotate them every so often as to prevent boredom.
What is the technique used by chinchillas to escape?
The foxes are not native to the region, but were introduced by European settlers for hunting purposes. This has enabled chinchillas to develop a technique called a ‘fur slip’. When a predator tries to grab hold of a chinchilla, it will dislodge some of its fur allowing it to escape.
How many pelts can a chinchilla take?
A single fur coat made of chinchilla fur can take as many as 200 pelts. This is part of the reason they were almost hunted to extinction. Because chinchillas ears are so similar to ours, they are commonly kept in labs for auditory research and experiments. A “Colony” refers to a group of chinchillas.
Why do chinchillas need dust baths?
Another important factor when designing your chinchilla habitat is that they need access to dust baths. Because their fur is so thick, they cannot get wet. This means in order to clean themselves and free their fur of any excess oil buildup, they need to bathe in dust.
What color are chinchillas?
In the wild, chinchillas typically have a mostly grey and brown body with tinges of yellow on their bellies. Through selective breeding in captivity however, many color patterns have been introduced and now you can find several different colors of chinchillas. Chinchilla fur is also incredibly thick, with up to 50 hairs growing from a single follicle.
How do chinchillas use dust?
Rather than water, chinchillas use dust to roll around in it. In the wild, chinchillas use volcanic ash. Most pet stores will sell chinchilla dust that is made from volcanic pumice or something similar. Provide a bowl or a special ‘bath house’ (also sold in most pet stores) for your chinchillas, put a small amount of dust in said object and the chinchillas will take care of the rest. It is their natural instinct to take these ‘baths’ so don’t worry about training your animals to use the dust.
How to keep chinchillas from getting dusty?
Typically, there will be plastic houses with small rounded openings on the front available for purchase. These contraptions allow the chinchilla pet to feel safe while ‘bathing’ while simultaneously keeping the rest of their environment dust free. You will also need the aforementioned dust. Some stores sell dust in small packets, others in large containers. This is all the equipment you need.
How many chinchillas can live alone?
In the wild, chinchillas live in colonies of hundreds or more. This is why it’s incredibly important to have more than one chinchilla. When kept alone, chinchillas can become severely depressed and even die.
What happens if a chinchilla cage is too small?
Chinchillas are playful, love to run around, and jump from ledge to ledge so the more room they have to do so, the happier they will be. If their environment is too small, they can become depressed and neurotic.
How hot do chinchillas get?
In the wild, chinchillas live way up high in the Andes mountains. Due to the elevation, the temperature can drop down to -5ºC or 23ºF. This is why chinchillas evolved to have such thick fur and why they do not tolerate heat well. When setting up your new chinchilla habitat, make sure it is in a place where the temperature does not go over 24ºC or 75ºF. Any temperature over 27ºC or 80ºF and/or high levels of humidity, and your chinchillas are at risk for heat stroke and death. You should also avoid anywhere that your chinchillas would be in direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as this can cause their body temperature to spike as well. Keep the chinchillas away from anywhere that experiences drafts too.
Why can't chinchillas get wet?
The reason they cannot get wet is because chinchilla fur is so thick that it prevents it from being able to dry properly. If chinchillas get wet, fungal infections and even mold can occur.
Why do chinchilla bones break?
Chinchilla bones are very thin and fragile. Rough play, improper handling and a limb getting caught in the cage are common causes. The hind legs are the most common bones to break. Veterinary chinchilla care is required with broken bones.
Why are chinchillas so soft?
The soft, dense fur of these chinchillas is due to the fact that each follicle has approximately 60 fine hairs growing from it. The coloration varies but typically consists of a bluish, pearl or gray upper coat with black tips on the hairs and a yellowish white underside. The tail is long and covered with coarse hairs. The thick fur helps protect chinchillas from cold temperatures as well as prevent water evaporation. The hairs are loosely attached, so the animals may escape from predators, like owls or foxes, leaving them with a mouthful of hair (Roder-Thiede, 1993). Their feet are highly adapted for movement on rocks. They have weak hind claws and pads on their feet to prevent slipping. ( Roder-Thiede, 1993)
What are the sensory organs of chinchillas?
The sensory organs are highly developed. The large eyes have vertically slit pupils. The external and middle ear are also large. Short-tailed chinchillas have long vibrissae, 110 mm, on both sides of the upper lip.
How big are chinchillas?
Short-tailed chinchillas have a body length of 12 to 13 inches and a tail length of 5 to 6 inches. Females are typically larger than males. They may be distinguished from C. lanigera by its smaller ears and overall larger size. In addition, Chinchilla chinchilla has 20 tail vertebrae compared to 30 in C. lanigera.
How much does a chinchilla coat cost?
In fact, when its size and weight are considered, the fur is the most valuable in the world. Coats made of wild chinchilla pelts have sold for up to $100,000. It may take up to 400 pelts to make such a coat. The fur is very sensitive to moisture, though, giving it limited durability. Thus, products made from chinchilla fur are luxury items.
Where does chinchilla fur come from?
Currently, chinchilla fur commonly comes from farm raised animals. Chinchillas are raised in captivity throughout the U.S. They are bred for their fur and also sold as pets. Commericial breeding in the U.S. began with 11 animals brought to California in 1923. However, these animals were probably C. laniger. Wild chinchillas are still trapped in order to improve genetic variation within domestic stocks. ( "International Wildlife Coalition Species Page", 1998; Jimenez, 1996)
When did chinchilla fur become widespread?
As soon as the quality of chinchilla fur was discovered, wild populations were hunted almost to extinction. Commercial hunting in northern Chile began in 1828 and quickly became widespread as trappers realized the immense profits available from chinchilla fur. Furs were mainly exported to the United States, France, England and Germany (Jimenez, 1996). Chinchillas had been hunted in the past by Incans for their fur and meat. Modern trapping techniques and market forces, however, have had a much greater impact on chinchilla populations.
Where are Chinchilla chinchillas found?
The range of Chinchilla chinchilla includes the Andes of southern Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Chile.
Why are chinchillas skittish?
Although “chill” is in their name, chinchillas are usually far from it. “Chinchillas are typically very skittish animals because they are a prey species ,” Dr. Hess says. They also love to run, jump and climb, which is why they prefer not to feel restrained.
Where are chinchillas native to?
Are you thinking about becoming a new pet parent and adding a small, furry friend to the family? If so, have you ever considered an exotic pet like a chinchilla? Native to the Andes Mountains, these plush pals are endangered in the wild—but before you fret with fear—you will be pleased to know that they continue to thrive as pets! While chinchillas may be part of the rodent family, along with mice and hamsters, they require some specialized chinchilla care and have a personality that’s all their own. Want to learn more? Here are 10 reasons why chinchillas make amazing pets!
Why shouldn't you bathe chinchillas?
They Bathe Themselves in Dust. Yep, you read that right—unlike other pets, chinchillas shouldn’t bathe in water because it will strip the natural oils from their dense fur.
How hot can a chinchilla get?
Temperatures just above 75 degrees Fahrenheit —while comfy for humans—can be too much for these little creatures, so they must be kept in a cool and air-conditioned area. 3. Chinchillas Use Their Fur as a Defense Mechanism.
Can chinchillas be potty trained?
Chinchillas are trainable, and with a lot of patience, they can learn to be potty trained and gently held. It helps to start when they are young, and you need to build a strong bond with them. A bonded chinchilla will be more social and is more receptive to being held than one that hasn’t had the chance to bond.
Do chinchillas need a diet?
1. Chinchillas Require a Low-Maintenance Diet. Chinchillas don’t require a lot of complex foods, but it’s important to stick to their modest yet essential dietary needs. Chinchillas are herbivores and live off a simple high-fiber, low-fat and low-sugar diet based on timothy hay and compacted chinchilla pellets.
Do chinchillas have a personality?
Chinchillas have the perfect temperament to build a two-way relationship with other chinchillas and pet parents alike, but just like us, they each have their own unique personality. 9. Chinchillas Are Trainable. Chinchillas are trainable, and with a lot of patience, they can learn to be potty trained and gently held.
