Introduction to Mammalogy. Grzimek, B. Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals: Vol. Haysen, V. Van Tienhoven, A. Van Tienhoven. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press. Jimenez, J. Biological Conservation , Miller, S. Rottmann, K. Raedeke, R. Endangered Mammals of Chile: Status and Conservation. Morris, D. Nowak, R. Walker's Mammals of the World; 6th Edition, Vol. Redford, K. Mammals of the Neotropics: the Southern Cone, Vol. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.
Roder-Thiede, M. Hong Kong: Barron's Educational Series. To cite this page: Kopack, H. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts.
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Chinchilla chinchilla short-tailed chinchilla Facebook. Biogeographic Regions neotropical native Habitat Short-tailed chinchillas are found in mountain shrub and grassland areas at elevations between and m. Habitat Regions temperate terrestrial Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland mountains Physical Description Short-tailed chinchillas have a body length of 12 to 13 inches and a tail length of 5 to 6 inches. Breeding season Mating occurs biannually.
Range number of offspring 1. Range lifespan Status: captivity high years Typical lifespan Status: wild 8 to 10 years Behavior These nocturnal animals may emerge at dusk and dawn to bask in the sun. Morris, Communication Channels visual tactile acoustic chemical Perception Channels visual tactile acoustic chemical Food Habits Chinchillas will eat any vegetation, such as grasses and herbs, within their range. Conservation Status The IUCN places the species as critically endangered, noting a decline of at least 80 percent in the past decade because of exploitation and habitat loss Nowak, Glossary Neotropical living in the southern part of the New World.
In other words, Central and South America. Read more Classification Kingdom Animalia animals Animalia: information 1 Animalia: pictures Animalia: specimens Animalia: sounds Animalia: maps Chordata: information 1 Chordata: pictures Chordata: specimens Chordata: sounds Vertebrata: information 1 Vertebrata: pictures Vertebrata: specimens Vertebrata: sounds Provide pelleted paper or aspen shavings as bedding; never use pine, cedar or sawdust, which can cause respiratory and other health problems.
Give them plenty of space, and chinchillas fare better with at least one other companion of their species. A sanitary environment promotes longevity. Take out soiled bedding and old food daily and replace all bedding and clean the cage weekly. Also provide veterinary checkups and attention to possible concerns.
While hamsters, mice and other rodents commonly kept as pets tend to live for a few years, the chinchilla lifespan is considerably longer. Consider that a pet chinchilla is potentially a year commitment. However, make sure the treats are healthy as well and counted in their daily diet plan to avoid weight issues. Getting your chinchilla used to approach you is often challenging work, but it is doable.
Since the chinchilla is prey in the wild, they will usually be elusive and hard to catch due to their escaping instinct. When the chinchilla does come to you on their own, make sure to lift them as gently as possible. Chinchillas need to cool down due to their thick coat, which causes them to heat up, especially during the summer. Always provide easy access to water for your chinchilla by attaching water bottles to their cage.
The reason why chinchillas need water all the time is not just because of keeping them cool — it also provides a way to flush out toxins from anything they eat. Supposed they accidentally chew on something that might make their stomach upset, such as a foreign object. With the right amount of water in their system, it will eventually get drained out, keeping their body healthy.
This is also important since the digestive system of a chinchilla is quite delicate, as with many other small pets. If you can find one, consider glass bottles instead of plastic because they are more durable and harbor less likelihood of bacteria. A large cage will help your chinchilla to feel relaxed. It will also provide them with plenty amounts of space to goof around, such as jumping, bouncing, and running — all necessary to keep them physically active.
Even if the cage is spacious, always consider putting your toys in the right order so that they have sufficient areas to move around. Aside from a comfortable cage, it also helps to have a shaded area to rest for privacy.
It will also help them shield themselves from excessive sunlight and heat whenever needed. Sadly, all living beings have an end, which is called life expectancy. What is the lifespan of a chinchilla? Chinchillas that live in the wild have a different lifestyle than those that we keep as pets. Chinchillas in the wild A chinchilla raised in the wild will live about 10 years because of the different dangers along the way, such as predators and lack of food resources.
Another problem chinchillas face in the wild is the predators chasing them every day. This is extremely important, as dental problems and diarrhea in a chinchilla can become serious health problems and can cause death. Is My Chinchilla Acting Strange? Some chinchilla behaviors can seem rather strange. For example, you may see your chinchilla eat its own poop.
This is a normal, healthy behavior that provides your pet with essential vitamins and nutrients. Also, chinchillas can release tufts of hair as a defense mechanism. It will grow back. As creatures of habit, chinchillas need to be introduced to changes slowly in regards to feedings and routines.
Your pet chinchilla needs toys for gnawing on and for personal enrichment. Chinchillas have continuously growing teeth and must chew to file their teeth or they will develop dental problems.
Therefore, bird toys such as Manzanita wood or vines make good toys. Try to avoid pumice squares—chin chew blox—sold for chinchillas because they often file the teeth too much. How Do Chinchillas Exercise? Chinchillas love to come out of their cages and run around. This can be done in a supervised fashion in a cordoned off area.
Chinchillas love to chew anything so watch out for wires, outlets and baseboards which can get chewed up quickly and can be dangerous for your pet. Make sure to cover up or block access to any outlets or electrical cords. The safest place to let your pet chinchilla play is on tiled, linoleum or wood floors without wires and outlets.
Plus, these surfaces make for an easy clean-up. Recommended Check-ups for a Chinchilla When you first buy a new chinchilla, we recommend having a specialized vet see your new pet.
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