ExploreMammals

Chinchilla Lanigera

chinchilla lanigera

Chinchillas are fluffy little animals with super soft fur! They love to jump around and are great at hopping around their homes.

Habitat: Chinchillas live in the rocky, mountainous regions of South America.

Appearance

The Chinchilla Lanigera is a small, robust rodent known for its incredibly soft, dense fur, typically grey with white underparts. It has large, dark eyes, prominent round ears, and a bushy tail, which gives it a distinctive appearance from other rodents.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderRodentiaFamilyChinchillidaeGenusChinchilla
Chinchilla Lanigera
furry trait badgesocial trait badgeburrowing trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Chinchilla Lanigera

Category

Mammals

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Chinchilla teeth grow constantly, so they must chew tough plants to keep them short.

Their bushy tail helps them balance perfectly when jumping and climbing on rocks.

They 'bathe' in volcanic ash or fine dust, not water, to keep their fur clean!

Wild chinchillas live in family colonies in burrows or rocky crevices.

Special abilities

Ability

Super Fur Armor

Chinchilla Lanigera has the densest fur of any land mammal, with 50+ hairs per follicle, which keeps them warm in cold mountain climates.

Ability

Escape Shed

Chinchilla Lanigera can 'fur slip,' shedding patches of fur when caught by a predator, helping them escape a dangerous grip.

Ability

Night Navigator

Chinchilla Lanigera has large ears and eyes for keen hearing and excellent night vision, helping them find food and avoid predators in the dark.

Ability

Mountain Leaper

Chinchilla Lanigera can leap several feet vertically, using their powerful hind legs to quickly navigate rocky, mountainous terrain.

Measurements & details

Length
22-38 cm
Weight
0.5-0.8 kg
Lifespan
6-10 years
Top Speed
25 km/h
Litter Size
1-2
Gestation
111 days

Diet & Feeding

This little mountain dweller munches on tough plants and grasses found in its rocky home.

Primary Foods

  • grasses
  • herbs
  • roots
  • mosses
  • lichen

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Andean Fox

Lycalopex culpaeus

A main predator of wild chinchillas.

eaten by

Magellanic Horned Owl

Bubo magellanicus

Nocturnal hunter preys on chinchillas.

eats

Ichu Grass

Stipa ichu

A primary food source in the Andes.

eats

Yareta

Azorella compacta

Chinchillas forage on this cushion plant.

Traits

Also known as

FluffballMountain RabbitSoftie

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Chinchilla Lanigera?

22-38 cm

How much does Chinchilla Lanigera weigh?

0.5-0.8 kg

How long does Chinchilla Lanigera live?

6-10 years

How fast can Chinchilla Lanigera move?

25 km/h

What does Chinchilla Lanigera eat?

This little mountain dweller munches on tough plants and grasses found in its rocky home.

Where is Chinchilla Lanigera usually found?

Chinchillas live in the rocky, mountainous regions of South America.

How does Chinchilla Lanigera hunt?

Foraging

How many babies does Chinchilla Lanigera usually have?

1-2

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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