Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)
By: Kaelyn Tally
TAXONOMY OF CHINCHILLAS
1. Kingdom: Animal
2. Phylum: Chordate
3. Class: Mammal
4. Order: Rodent
5. Family: Chinchillidae
6. Genus: Chinchilla
7. Species: C. lanigera or Chinchilla brevicaudata
SCIENTIFIC NAME
The two living species of chinchilla are Chinchilla chinchilla, formerly known as Chinchilla brevicaudata, and Chinchilla lanigera. Chinchilla chinchilla has a shorter tail, a thicker neck and shoulders, and shorter ears than Chinchilla lanigera.
FUN FACTS ABOUT CHINCHILLAS
CHINCHILLA BATHS
Chinchillas do not bathe in water because the dense fur prevents air-drying, retaining moisture close to the skin, which can cause fungus growth or fur rot. Chinchillas need a dust bath to pull dirt, oil, and excess moisture from their coats.
CHINCHILLA FUR
Chinchillas have the softest fur in all of land mammals. Their fur is so soft, that the first reason why Chinchillas were hunted by the native tribes who lived in The Andes Mountains is not for their meat, but for their fur. It is very dense and have 50-80 hairs growing out of a single follicle compared to a human’s which only grows 2-3 hairs per follicle.
FUR SLIP
Chinchillas can shed their fur in large clumps if they feel threatened or under attack. They do what is called a "fur slip". It is not the same as shedding, plus a Chinchilla hardly ever sheds.