INTRODUCTION
Chinchilla, or "chins" as the yare affectionately know, are growing rapidly in popularity as pets today. They are NOT difficult to care for and can soon become very tame, particularly if you start out with a young chinchilla. Their care is quite straightforward, and provided that they are housed in suitable surroundings and their specific dietary needs are met, you are unlikely to face costly vet bills.
There are two types of chinchilla -- chinchilla Brevicaudata and Chinchilla Lanigera. There are very few differences - both have large hind legs, which they often use to stand upright, and smaller front legs. The undersides of their paws are padded and they have only four toes and an underdeveloped thumb.
Brevicaudate: Of the two types, the Brevicaudate has a thicker neck and shoulders, making it appear bigger than the Lanigera. it is the longer of the two, butdespite this, has the shorter tail.
Lanigera: The lanigerais distinguishing features are its angular face and pointed nose. Despite this slim, long look, the Lanigera is smaller than the Brevicaudata. Experts agree that domesticated chinchillas are of the type chinchilla Lanigera.
TYPICAL CHINCHILLA
- Weighing about 1 - 2 oz (35 to 70g) at birth and gaining a little more than a pound (600 to 800 g) by the time it is fully grown.
- Soft coat consists of hair 1 to 2 inches in length, arranged inbands.
- Large, expressive eyes
- Big ears, long whiskers, bushy "squirrel tail"
- Very sensitive hearing and large auditory bullae. Uninhibited and curious
- Fond of exercising and jumping
- Considers almost everything to be edible
- comical while eating
- Willing to snuggle with other chinchillas they trust
- Fascinating variety in nature and temperament
- Long life expectancy of more than 20 years
