Chinchillidae
Chinchillidae Temporal range:
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Chinchilla chinchilla (formerly Chinchilla brevicaudata)[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Superfamily: | Chinchilloidea |
Family: | Chinchillidae Bennett, 1833 |
Type genus | |
Chinchilla Bennett, 1829
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Genera | |
†Eoviscaccia |
The family Chinchillidae is in the order Rodentia and consists of the chinchillas, the viscachas, and their fossil relatives. This family is restricted to southern and western South America, mostly living in mountainous regions of the Andes but one species living on plains. They are medium to large-sized rodents, weighing from 800 g (28 oz) to 8 kg (18 lb), with strong hind legs and large ears and a bushy tail. All species have thick, soft fur, which is considered valuable in some cultures.[2]
Characteristics
Members of the
Distribution
The Chinchillidae are native to South America. Chinchillas and mountain viscachas live in remote mountainous regions of Chile and Peru, on rocky surfaces and among boulders. Plains viscachas are found in the plains of Argentina, from the Gran Chaco area southwards to Patagonia.[3]
Behaviour
Members of this family are herbivorous and live in colonies of up to several hundred individuals. Plains viscachas live in extensive networks of burrows on plains where it is said that ten viscachas can eat as much as does one sheep. Mountain viscachas and chinchillas live in craggy upland regions where they inhabit crevices among rocks and are skilled climbers. Although they can jump, they mostly move about by walking or running. They use vocalizations to communicate with each other, especially the plains viscachas.[3]
Status
Both species of chinchillas are listed by the
Classification
Three extant and three fossil genera are currently recognized:
- †Eoviscaccia incertae sedis
- †Incamys
- Subfamily Chinchillinae
- Chinchilla - chinchillas
- Lagidium - mountain viscachas
- Subfamily Lagostominae
- Lagostomus - plains viscachas
- †Pliolagostomus
- †Prolagostomus
References
- ^ Woods, C. A. and Kilpatrick, C. W. 2005. Infraorder Hystricognathi. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 1538-1599. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
- ^ a b c Myers, Phil (2002). "Chinchillidae: chinchillas and viscachas". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ^ D'elia, G.; Orjeda, R. (2008-06-30). "Chinchilla chinchilla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ^ D'elia, G.; Teta, P. (2008-06-30). "Chinchilla lanigera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ^ Lessa, E.; Ojeda, R.; Bidau, C. (2008-06-30). "Lagostomus maximus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ^ Pacheco, V.; Zeballos, H.; Vivar E.; Bernal, N. (2008-06-30). "Lagidium peruanium". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on 2013-10-13. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- ^ Dunnum, J.; Vargas, J.; Bernal, N.; Zeballos, H.; Lessa, E.; Ojeda, R.; Bidau, C. (2008-06-30). "Lagidium viscacia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- McKenna, Malcolm C., and Bell, Susan K. 1997. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp. ISBN 0-231-11013-8