Chinchillas: homeland, lifestyle features

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Chinchillas are fluffy animals with very beautiful fur. Chinchillas are native to the highlands of South America. These are very clean rodents with a cute appearance, good-natured disposition and good he alth. It is no coincidence that it has recently become popular to keep a chinchilla in an apartment as a pet. However, these animals are very whimsical in care and maintenance. Therefore, those who decide to have such a fluffy pet need to know the characteristics of the chinchilla habitat in nature. This is necessary in order to create comfortable living conditions for the animal.

Natural living conditions

Because chinchillas are native to the highlands from Argentina to Venezuela, which are more than three thousand meters above sea level, they are adapted to harsh climatic conditions. Strong winds, winter frosts,cool summers are familiar to these animals. The peculiarities of the climate in the homeland of chinchillas contributed to the formation of very thick fur.

For the area where they live, rains are a rarity. These rodents have to make do with dew on plants and the liquid they get from their food. It is no coincidence that water procedures are contraindicated for chinchillas. They bathe in volcanic sand, thus getting rid of parasites and odors.

The vegetation of the rocky terrain of the homeland of chinchillas is quite scarce. But high grass cover is not necessary for the life of these rodents, as their luxurious wool clings to dense vegetation.

These fluffy animals feed on plant foods. They have enough dwarf shrubs, grasses, lichens and succulents.

Lifestyle features

In their natural habitat, chinchillas live in colonies of at least five pairs. Females dominate the flock, as they are larger than males and more aggressive. The colony has watcher animals that warn the flock of danger.

Rodents very cleverly choose crevices of rocks, voids among stones for shelter. Sometimes they use other people's holes and hide there. Chinchillas rarely dig their burrows. These animals are active at night, preferring to sleep during the day. They are very careful. Chinchillas do not store food.

Dangerous Enemies

These fluffy animals are very shy. This is no coincidence, because chinchillas have enough enemies in their natural habitat. The main one is the fox. It is larger than a rodent, so it is especially dangerous. She usually lies in wait for her prey near the shelter. She rarely manages to get the animal out of a narrow hole. Only caution, natural camouflage color and high speed of movement can save a chinchilla from a fox. No less dangerous for these animals is the taira, whose habits and physique resemble a weasel. Unlike the fox, it easily sneaks into the shelter of the chinchilla. In the morning and evening, birds of prey start hunting for fluffy rodents: eagle owls and owls. Snakes are also a danger to chinchillas.

However, the threat posed to small rodents by natural enemies is insignificant compared to the mass extermination of these animals by humans. Despite the prohibitions, poachers exterminate chinchillas in order to obtain valuable fur. Over the past fifteen years, the population of these rodents has decreased by 90 percent. Chinchillas are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

Appearance

Chinchilla body length varies from 22 to 38 centimeters, tail length - from 10 to 17 centimeters. Weight can reach 800 grams. The body is covered with very thick fur, which warms animals in harsh climatic conditions. Rigid guard hairs cover the tail. The standard color of chinchillas is gray-blue with a white belly. The head of the animals is rounded, the neck is short. Large black eyes, vertical pupils, adapted to see in the dark. Their whiskers grow up to 10 cm, rounded ears - up to 6 cm.

The structure of the skeleton of these rodents is unique - ithas the ability to compress and stretch. This gives the animals the opportunity to hide in very narrow burrows and crevices. The five-toed front paws of chinchillas are very interesting - with four short grasping fingers and one long one, which is rarely used. Strongly developed four-fingered hind legs contribute to the rapid movement of these animals on a rocky surface. They jump well. Thanks to the developed cerebellum, chinchillas are distinguished by good coordination of movements, which also ensures safety when moving in mountainous areas.

Types of chinchillas

In nature, these rodents are found in two types: short-tailed and long-tailed. Short-tailed are larger in size, have a slightly different structure of the head and body.

Long-tailed chinchillas are distinguished by an unusually fluffy tail that grows up to 17 cm. These are smaller individuals. It is this species that is bred on farms and kept as pets.

Several mutation species have been bred to create a variety of colors by crossing.