Range

South America is the native home of the long tailed chinchilla. The entire population is found in Chile at the foothills of the Andes and other mountain ranges.

Habitat

They make their home in mountainous habitats. Here they can be found in crevices, rocky outcrops, open fields and brushland.

Reproduction

Mating occurs in winter with the pups being born in spring.

After a 111 day gestation the female will give birth to between one and six young which are known as pups.

At birth the young are fully furred and can move within a few hours of birth. They will remain between their parents to keep warm.

Within a week they have their first try of solid food and by 7-8 weeks old they are weaned.

Sexual maturity is typically reached at 8 months old but may occur as early as 5.5 months old.

They may have up to two litters each year.

If a female is unable to raise a young another female may step in and adopt them.

Behavior

Their mountainous habitat means they are adapted for cold temperatures and will easily overheat. To prevent this they will pump extra blood to the ears which is cooled by the breeze and then flows through the body.

They are primarily nocturnal emerging at night to feed.

To reinforce social bonds they will nibble one another. Mates chew on one anothers ears, eyes and under the chin.

Long tailed chinchillas will take dust baths to keep their fur in good condition. The dust attaches to the oil and dirt allowing it to be extracted.

Females are typically dominant within long-tailed chinchilla society. They will threaten other chinchillas through growling and chattering their teeth.

These animals are social and may live in colonies which include up to 100 members.

They make a wide range of vocalizations which vary be behavior.

Predators and Threats

The natural predators of the long tailed chinchilla include foxes, cougars, snakes, hawks and owls.

When threatened by a predator they can release a clump of fur allowing them to escape the grip of the predator.

They face food competition from cattle and goats.

Humans impact their population through poaching both for the pet trade and for their fur.

Quick facts

Pet Chinchillas in the United States are almost all descended from 11 animals imported by an American mining engineer named Mathias F. Chapman. He brought them to the states in the 1920s.

There was previously three species of chinchilla but with the extinction of the king chinchilla only two remain. These are the long tailed and short tailed chinchillas.

They are named after the Chincha people of the Andes who wore the fur of these animals.

Long-tailed chinchillas are also known as the Chilean chinchilla.