Facts about Chinchillas
It is named after the Chincha people of the Andes, who wore its soft and dense fur. Chinchilla literally means "little Chincha". The chinchilla lacks the ability to sweat; therefore, if temperatures get above 25°C (80°F), the chinchilla could get overheated and may suffer from heat stroke. Chinchillas dissipate heat by routing blood to their large ears, so red ears signal overheating. They are native to Chile. By the end of the 19th century, chinchillas had become quite rare due to hunting for their fur. Most chinchillas currently used by the fur industry for clothing and other accessories are farm-raised. Chinchillas have a variety of defence tactics including spraying urine and releasing fur if bitten. They are agile jumpers and can jump very high, up to 5 ft (1.5 m). In nature, chinchillas live in social groups that resemble colonies but are properly called herds. Their gestation period is 111 days which is quite long compared to other rodents. Due to this long pregnancy, chinchillas are born fully furred and with eyes open. Typical reproduction rates of chinchilla are two litters per year of 1–3 kits (3 being rare). Male kits must be separated from their mother soon after weaning to prevent mating. Chinchilla females are significantly bigger than males. Chinchillas can breed any time of the year. There are two living species of chinchilla. In their native habitat, chinchillas live in burrows or crevices in rocks. Their predators in the wild are birds of prey, skunks, felines, snakes and canines. In the wild, chinchillas have been observed eating plants, fruits, seeds, and small insects, though this diet could irritate the digestive system of a domestic chinchilla whose diet should be primarily hay-based. The first literature reference to chinchillas dates back to 1599 in a book published in Seville, entitled Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias, written by Father José de Acosta: (from Spain) "About mountain animals. Chinchillas are another type of small animals such as squirrels. They have a fur (coat) that is of wonderful softness". |
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