Chinchilla Facts - Things You May Not Know

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jack_Sterling]Jack Sterling
Chinchilla origins
Chinchillas are petite rodents that hail from the Andes mountains in Latin America.
Their curious name translates as "little Chincha", named after the Chincha people from the previously mentioned Andes mountain range.
There are two distinct chinchilla varieties; one is called the short-tailed chinchilla, and the other is appropriately named the long-tailed chinchilla. While the 2 species have several comparable features, the short-tailed rodent possesses broader shoulders, a thicker neck and, as the name implies, a smaller tail.
Natural habitat of the chinchilla
In the wild, chinchillas live as a group in herds. They're usually located in mountain crevices in addition to burrows. For a small, as well as not notably ferocious rodent, the chinchilla possesses a wide variety of predators that it should stay clear of; for instance snakes, canines, skunks, in addition to various birds of prey. In the case of an attack, it protects itself against the predators by squirting urine and releasing tufts of fur, should it get injured or seized. Wild chinchillas dine on fresh fruits, plants, tiny insects and seeds.
Chinchillas can select to breed during virtually any time of the year. Their pregnancy period lasts an impressive one hundred and eleven days, longer compared to most other rodents. Because of the extensive pregnancy length, chinchillas are typically born with open eyes and also a body loaded with fur. The litters average in between 1 and 2. The majority give birth to twins.
Several informative and enjoyable chinchilla facts

Chinchillas has a lifespan between 10 and 20 years. At this point, the oldest specimen heard about accomplished an incredible 27 to 29 years of age.
Chinchillas are, just like some other rodents, gifted by having an astounding ability when it comes to jumping. They have been seen to leap up to 6 feet high into the air.
Their fur is amazingly soft; an unlucky trait that caused an earlier variety of the rodent to go extinct as a consequence of excessive hunting.
The chinchilla cannot sweat, thus it has to maintain its temperature below 80� (25�C), otherwise it may get overheated. It has to direct heat to its large ears via the bloodstream, so if you notice that your fuzzy pet suddenly started sporting crimson ears; it's time for you to cool it down!
They're a nocturnal rodent. They're awake during the night and asleep throughout the day. Remember this if perhaps you're thinking about placing your chinchilla in the bedroom.

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