Hobbies And Interests
Mountain Terrain
Wild chinchillas have been divided into chinchilla brevicaudata and chinchilla lanigera. The chinchilla lanigera is believed to be the ancestor of the domestic chinchilla. This particular animal is distinguished from its nearly identical relative by a longer tail and neck. Today, the chinchilla lanigera can be found in northern Chile and is considered rare. The remaining few members of the chinchilla brevicaudata live further to the north in the mountains of Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. As of 2010, it's on the verge of extinction.
Mountain Ecosystem
Wild chinchillas can be found living at elevations from 3,000 to 16,000 feet. They are nocturnal animals that retreat to large underground dens during the day that may contain up to a hundred chinchillas. The high mountain terrain, where the chinchilla survives, is a rocky landscape that supports a thin covering of desert-like shrubs. The thick fur of the the chinchilla not only helps the animal keep warm, it also enables the animal to conserve water.
The Natural Niche of the Chinchilla
The chinchilla has a diet that consists mostly of wild grasses, small insects, fruits and plants, including some cacti. Their feeding activities help spread the seed stock of many wild Andean plants. Unfortunately, chinchillas are part of the food chain of large birds of prey, skunks, wild cats and snakes. Their biggest enemy is man.