Long-tailed chinchilla

Long-tailed chinchilla

Description

The long-tailed chinchilla is a small rodent famous for having the densest fur of any land mammal, with more than fifty fine hairs growing from a single follicle. Its body measures about 22–38 cm, the bushy tail adds another 8–15 cm, and it weighs roughly 400–600 g, with females larger than males. It has large dark eyes, long whiskers, rounded ears and powerful hind legs built for leaping.

Habitat

It is native to the Andes of northern Chile, where it lives on rocky slopes and dry scrubland at altitudes of roughly 1,000–3,000 m. It shelters in rock crevices and burrows and lives socially in colonies that can number dozens of animals.

Diet

A herbivore, it feeds on grasses, herbs, seeds, leaves and fleshy cacti. It holds food in its front paws to nibble, and needs plenty of hay and coarse fibre for healthy digestion while avoiding moist foods.

Reproduction

Gestation is unusually long for a rodent, around 111 days. Females usually give birth to one to three well-developed young that are born furred, with open eyes and able to move about soon after birth, producing one or two litters a year.

Lifespan

Around 8–10 years in the wild, commonly 15 years in human care and occasionally over 20.

Did you know?

A chinchilla never bathes in water but rolls in fine volcanic dust; the dust bath cleans its coat and absorbs excess oils, because its dense fur would mat and grow mould if it ever became soaked.