Chinchillidae

Chinchillidae
Temporal range: Late Oligocene–Recent
Chinchilla chinchilla (formerly Chinchilla brevicaudata)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Superfamily: Chinchilloidea
Family: Chinchillidae
Bennett, 1833
Type genus
Chinchilla
Bennett, 1829
Genera

†Eoviscaccia
†Incamys
Chinchilla
Lagidium
Lagostomus
†Pliolagostomus
†Prolagostomus

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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Bishop, Ian (1984). Macdonald, D. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. p. 702. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.