Fauna
Mammal

Long-tailed Chinchilla

Chinchilla lanigera

Also known as Chilean Chinchilla, Coastal Chinchilla, Common Chinchilla, Lesser Chinchilla

Long-tailed chinchillas are small, social rodents famous for their incredibly dense, velvety fur, which boasts up to 80 hairs per follicle to insulate them against harsh mountain temperatures. They navigate rocky, arid Andean slopes with remarkable agility, using their large ears to dissipate heat and their long whiskers to feel their way through dark crevices. Living in colonies called herds, these nocturnal herbivores communicate through a variety of soft chirps, squeaks, and warning barks.

NocturnalSocialMontane
Long-tailed Chinchilla reference
Guérin Nicolas (messages) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyHerbivorous (grasses, seeds, leaves, and lichens)
Predators
  • Culpeo Fox
  • Andean Mountain Cat
  • Birds of Prey
ThreatsHabitat degradation, illegal poaching, and predation by invasive species
HabitatsArid, rocky mountain slopes and shrublands
Life span8 to 15 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyChinchillidae
  2. SpeciesChinchilla lanigera
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Capable of a defensive bite if cornered or handled; observe wild populations from a safe distance.
What to notice
Look for a small, pear-shaped rodent with exceptionally soft grey fur, large rounded ears, and a bushy tail.
Support conservation
Never attempt to capture, touch, or disturb wild colonies, and stick strictly to designated trails in protected reserves.
Responsible observation
  • Listen for vocalizations: Listen quietly at dusk for their high-pitched alarm calls echoing across rocky crevices.
  • Look for dust baths: Search for small, powdery depressions in the soil where they clean their dense fur.
  • Keep your distance: Avoid approaching active colonies to prevent scaring them back into their deep rock crevices.
Related species
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