14 Amazing Things You Should Know About Chinchilla

                   Kingdom : Animalia
                          Class : Mammalia
                       Family :  Chinchillidae
        Scientific Name : Chinchilla Lanigera

                       Size(L) : 25cm - 35cm 
                                       (10in - 14in)
                       Weight : 400g - 500g
                                       (14oz - 18oz)
                 Top Speed : 24km/h (15mph)
                  Life Span : 10 - 18 years

                      Colour : Beige, Brown, Grey
                 Skin Type : Fur
Distinctive Features : Dense fur and
                                      long back legs

1. Chinchillas are medium sized rodents found in South American Andes Mountains.
2. They get their name from the tribe that hunted them for their fur- the Chinchas.
3. They grow to an average size of 25-35cm and weigh around 400-500g.
4. They may be beige, brown or grey in color.
5. They inhabit the dry and mountainous regions.
6. Distinctively, they have dense fur and long back legs.
7. They are herbivores feeding primarily on fruits, berries, nuts and seeds.
8. They have their natural predators in owls, foxes and cougars.
9. They defend themselves, when attacked, by spraying urine and releasing their fur.
10. They were domesticated in the 1920s and were introduced in California.
11. They have since been bred ad sold as pets to the different parts of the world.
12. Pet chinchillas need frequent attention and dust baths.
13. Interestingly, they have floating ribs, which are not fully attached to their spines.
14. Which means, lifting them from underneath could puncture their vital organs and kill them.