Zoolung Animals

Hanam Gyeongju

Chinchilla

Chinchillas are animals with very soft, grayish fur. They are known to have the densest fur of any land-dwelling mammal. Thanks to their fine, dense fur, they are able to ward off parasites such as ticks and fleas. With ears that are large relative to their bodies, they have keen hearing that allows them to quickly detect predators and dart into rock crevices to hide. They typically live in groups of 10 or more, sometimes numbering over 100.

Category

Taxonomy Chinchillidae
Habitat

Dry high-altitude region
Diet

Omnivorous, feeding on grass, fruit, and small insects

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Hanam

Guardian of Life Cheshire

Species

Rodents

It is a rodent that looks similar to a squirrel but has much softer fur. Each hair follicle produces 50 to 80 hairs.

Place of discovery

The Andes Mountains in South America

It is native to the high-altitude regions of South America, including Chile, Peru, and Bolivia.

Habitat

A cold, dry rocky area

They live in barren, cold areas at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 meters, making their homes in crevices or holes in the rocks.

Diet

herbivore

They mainly eat **hay (such as timothy)** and seeds. Since they have sensitive stomachs, you should be careful with fruits and vegetables that are high in moisture.

Action

The Master of Sand Baths

Because their fur is so dense, it doesn’t dry well when washed with water, which can lead to mold growth. Instead, they are bathed in fine volcanic ash.

Average size

25cm ~ 35cm

Although small in size, its tail is about 15 cm long. Its hind legs are well-developed, allowing it to jump several times its own height.

Features

thick fur

It is known to have the thickest fur of any land-dwelling mammal.

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Compared to other rodents such as hamsters and guinea pigs, they have a relatively long lifespan and can live for nearly 20 years when kept as pets.