Chinchilla Flashcards
Class
Mammilia
Names
Lucky and Charm
Gender
Both male
Range
Chinchillas are found in the Andes Mountains in Northern Chille.
Habitat
Relatively barren areas in the Andes Mountains, at elevations from 9,800 to 16,400 feet.
Diet
Any vegetation available to them.
Predators
Chinchillas are preyed upon by felines, canines, and snakes, but they are predator to none.
How high can Chinchillas jump?
Chinchillas can jump 4-5 feet straight up in the air.
How many hairs per follicle do Chinchillas have?
60 hairs per follicle.
How many Chinchillas does it take to make one long coat?
125
At what temperature can Chinchillas start suffering from heat stroke?
25 degrees C or 80 degrees F.
History
Charm was given to us, but lucky was found under a car with burns so his tail had to be removed.
What do we feed our chinchillas?
Pellets and alfalfa hay
How high can they jump?
4-6 feet
Do chinchillas live in groups?
Yes they live in colonies called herds
What are some of their defense tactics?
They can spray urine and can release fir if they feel threatened
How big are their herds?
Anywhere from 14-100
How big are their litters?
About two
How are chinchillas born?
Fully furred and with eyes open because they have a very long gestation period.
Are the nocturnal or diurnal?
Nocturnal
What are the whiskers used for?
They have underdeveloped eyes, so their whiskers grow very long and can help them see/feel their surroundings.
What do they use their tails for?
For balance while jumping and climbing
What are baby chinchillas called?
Kits
When did chinchilla fir become popular?
The 1700s
When were they introduced into the US?
1923 11 chinchillas were brought to the US for breeding
Is the female or male more dominant?
Female
What type of breeding so they have?
Females mate with one male for life, but the male can mate with many females.
How do they eat?
They hold it in their front paws and nibble it.
Do they make good pets?
Yes, but not for small children because they are hyper active and high-strung
What is interesting about their blood?
Because they have adapted to live in higher altitude, their blood has thickened with extra red blood cells to carry more oxygen
How many species of chinchillas are there?
Two. The short and long tailed
What hearing range do they have?
They have a similar heating range to ours, so they can’t hear things that we can’t, but their ears are much larger so they are more sensitive than ours.
How do they sleep?
They can sleep in pretty much any position.
Why do they take dust baths?
To remove any oil or moisture from their fur
How do chinchilla communicate?
With barks, chirps, and grunts, along with squeals
About how many chinchilla are left on the wild?
It is estimated that there about 10,000 chinchillas left in the wild
