Chinchillas are a small rodent that originate from the high altitudes of the Andes mountains in South America. To survive the cold conditions, they have evolved to have the densest fur of any land mammal, with each hair follicle containing 60-80 hairs. There are two different species of chinchilla: the long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) and the short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla).
Both species of chinchilla in the wild are classed as endangered on the IUCN red list as they are hunted for their soft pelts. They are herbivores eating mostly dried grasses which is needed to wear down their teeth, as they never stop growing. In the wild, chinchillas live in herds of up to 100 individuals. They are crepuscular meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. They can live for 20+ years in captivity with proper care.
