Chinchilla

Wild species and domestic varieties

Although very close to aspect and manners, one distinguishes several species from the kind Chinchilla as well as domestic varieties. Only the currently known ones are animals of South America become very rare. Both are protected spaces:

* Chinchilla brevicaudata Waterhouse, 1848 or Chinchilla with short tail.

* Chinchilla will lanigera (Molina, 1782) or Chinchilla with long tail.

The chinchilla of breeding or Chinchilla domesticates is a Hybride, Chinchilla laniger X Chinchilla brevicaudata , which results from the progressive crossing of the two wild species within breeding S. It is however much nearer to the Chinchilla will lanigera than very rare Chinchilla brevicaudata . It is an animal adapted to the captivity and known general public under the vernacular Nom of “chinchilla”. In the beginning, the objective of the first breedings was the production of Fourrure. The domestic chinchilla is also employed like animal of laboratory and one nowadays meets it usually like Pet. Many colors were developed in breeding, though this one started less than one century ago.

See also: Chinchilla brevicaudata, Chinchilla will lanigera, Chinchilla domesticates

Systematic Nomenclature and

The word “Chinchilla”

The word chinchilla comes either from an Indian tribe of the the Andes, Chincas, Chinchilla meaning literally “small Chinca”, or of chinche “animal puant” (undoubtedly in reference to strong the Odeur which it releases when it is frightened).

Chinchilla could also come from the Indian Quechua: “chin” which mean quiet and “sinchi” which wants to say extremely and courageous, are still the Latin name more employed. It has many synonyms however: Driven Linnaeus, 1758 (Molina, 1782), Lemmus Link, 1795 (Tiedemann, 1808), Cricetus Leske, 1779 (E.Geoffroy St - Hilaire, 1803); Eriomys Lichtenstein, 1830; Callomys of orbigny and I. Geoffroy St - Hilaire, 1830; Aulacodus Temminck, 1827 (Kaup, 1832); Lagostomus Brookes, 1828 (Vat, 1830).

The most recent authorities identify also two species: Chinchilla laniger and Chinchilla brevicaudata (Will pull up, 1961; Corbet and Hill, 1980; Woods, 1993; Monoz-Pedreros, 2000).
A distinction which appears in agreement with the recent molecular data (Spotorno and Al 2004) because, in 2003, Valladares and Spotorno lodged a request with the zoological International commission of nomenclature for the renaming also in two species: to validate the old name Driven Laniger (Molina, 1782), in the place of Chinchilla laniger (Molina, 1782) and to validate old the Eriomys chinchilla Lichtenstein, 1830, in the place of Chinchilla brevicaudata Waterhouse, 1848. Ask answer on standby.

This distinction between wild chinchilla domestic and species is essential within the framework of the international regulations because those differ according to whether it is a question from specimens from breeding or protected wild individuals.

Common characteristics of the chinchillas

The wild chinchillas have almost all disappeared. Rare testimonys (A.E. Brehm, 1864; Jiménez, 1995) make it possible however to have an idea of their description and their behavior. The domestic chinchillas inherited the characteristics their ancestors. For more details to also see under articles of the species and varieties of the kind.

These rodents of the size of a small rabbit (Jiménez, 1995) are adapted perfectly to their lifestyle in a hostile habitat.

Social animals

Their habitat is the Andes cordillera, until more: 4500 m of altitude according to the species, in the desert zones of rocks (Jimenez, 2007). They nested there formerly in family colonies several hundreds of individuals, but their rarefaction tends to reduce more and more the size of the last colonies of Chinchilla will lanigera known. The females are larger than the males and dominant. The opinions are divided on their possible monogamy.

To communicate they emit a variety of sounds and small cries, squeakings of teeth, jets of urine or release a strong odor in the event of aggression. The conflicts are rare if their habitat is rather vast.

Vulnerable animals

As small herbivores, the chinchillas are typical Proie S. Their small incisors of orange color and their members with the atrophied fingers partly (former: 4 fingers plus an atrophied finger, posterior: 3 fingers plus an atrophied finger) and provided with very short claws are not enough to protect them.

Their safety is in the escape: the rear limbs, more developed than the former ones and to the non-skid bearings, as well as a thick and bulky tail, their allow to be held upright to observe with far, to jump, leap with the manner of the Kangourou S and to climb on the rock faces to flee at high speed with slightest warning (A.E. Brehm, 1864). The fur is detached in tufts from hairs and the tail breaks easily to escape rare the Prédateur S natural (Rapace S, Renard S, Martes).

Night animals, all Chinchillas have large black eyes, large Oreille S with tympanic bubbles with the significant development and long Vibrisse S enabling them to locate itself in the darkness among the rocks.

Animals of the cold and rock deserts

They have a particularly dense fur which limits evaporation in these areas where the temperature varies much between the day and the night. When a follicule at the man carries a hair, a follicule at the chinchilla in door more than one around fifty (Meadow, 1969). It is the densest fur of the terrestrial species: : 20000 hairs per cm ². In these arid territories, they nest in anfractuosities, between the thorn-bushes, and maintain their fur by baths volcanic dust. Contrary to the generally accepted ideas, even within the scientific community , the chinchilla is not caecotrophe: it remâche not its balls cæcales, but would be rather a conditional coprophage.

Reproduction

A chinchilla can live ten years in nature, up to twenty years in captivity. It reproduces slowly compared to the other rodents.

sexual maturity is reached in eight month.
gestation is of at least 111 days.
the small ones are born already covered from hairs and the open eyes.
It has on average there only two ranges per annum comprising two small.

Origin and history

Prehistory

One finds fossilized remainders in South America in the layers of the Eocene higher, the Pliocène and the Pléistocène what indicates that they lived in this area since roughly: 50000000 of years.

The scientists think that the chinchillas are the direct descendants of the Megamys. A prehistoric animal similar to the chinchilla, but larger, which one discovered the remainders in Argentina.

Traditional hunting

The wild chinchillas were at the origin largely widespread in the adjacent the central Andes and mountains. In 1864, one could still observe, in the high Andes, of the not very savage hundreds of chinchillas assembling and descending with an astonishing speed rock faces escarpée (A.E. Brehm, 1864).

Concerning the time précolombienne, one can affirm that the use of the fur of the chinchilla goes up well before the Empire INCA. One also drove out it for his meat and like pet. The chinchas used it to make clothing and wove its hair to carry out covers. When the chinchas were overcome by Incas, the latter held of it the use with the royal clothes of ceremony.

As of 1890, one became aware of the risks of extinction because the chinchilla reproduced less quickly than of other rodents. In 1898, one regulated hunting, with little result.

It is specified there: “Chinchilla spp. (The specimens of the domesticated form are not subjected to the provisions of Convention)”. Consequently, for the wild chinchillas only, “the trade of the specimens of these species must be subjected to a particularly strict regulation in order not to more endanger their survival, and must be authorized only under exceptional conditions. ”

the wild species profit from a level of protection and a specific policy of conservation. The Chinchilla brevicaudata is recognized like " in danger critique" and the Chinchilla will lanigera " vulnérable" by the IUCN which however recognizes that " hunting for the chinchillas continue" and that the chinchilla with short tail whose fur is more required is always tracked (Thornback and Jenkins, 1982).

In spite of its statute of protected animal, and the creation of natural reserves, the population of the wild chinchillas does not cease decreasing. Undoubtedly because of the combined action of the disturbance of their habitat, the Predatory S and the diseases (Jiménez, 1994).

The conservatory breeding does not have until now step given of positive tests. The tests of reintroduction to the Chile of chinchillas of breeding (Mohlis, 1983) as well as the attempts at introduction in California, Tadjikistan or in Chile failed until now (Jiménez, 2006).

the domestic chinchilla , high successfully since 1923, is as for him largely widespread a little everywhere in the world. Its breeding is easy, including by private individuals. Its statute of protection as an animal with fur differs however from country to country.

The safeguard of the chinchillas also lies in the discovery of substitute products like the Orylag, a rabbit of breeding whose fur points out that of Chinchilla.

Notes and references of the article

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