Many people are accustomed to thinking that these furry rodents are exclusively gray in color. But in fact, the colors of chinchillas are quite diverse, because for decades experts have carried out breeding work with them, achieving new colors and shades of their stunning fur.

There are only two types of these animals: the small long-tailed chinchilla and the large short-tailed chinchilla (or Peruvian). They differ from each other only in size and tail length.

And some areas of the Argentine Andes, but in natural conditions these animals are no longer found, as they were completely exterminated due to their valuable fur. Now short-tailed chinchillas are bred on special farms. Representatives of this species have a strong body, from thirty to forty centimeters long, and their weight ranges from five hundred to eight hundred grams. The short tail is covered with coarse hairs.

They are called coastal ones, and they are still found in the wild, mainly in the highlands of the Chilean Andes. Rodents differ from their larger relatives in their smaller size (body length from twenty to thirty centimeters) and a long tail covered with luxurious fur. The animals weigh no more than seven hundred grams.

Important: both of these types of chinchillas have almost the same gray color, but as a result of breeding work with the small long-tailed chinchilla, breeds with more than forty colors and different shades of fur were bred.

Angora chinchilla

Angora chinchilla is the most expensive chinchilla in the world

The Angora or royal chinchilla is a subspecies of the common long-tailed chinchilla. As in the case of dwarf rodents, long-haired animals appeared due to natural mutation, and not targeted selection, although chinchillas with long fur have long been the ultimate dream of many breeders.

Although the first mentions of these animals date back to the sixties of the last century, it was only in 2001 that the Angora standard was established.

Angora chinchilla has the fluffiest tail

The fact is that their breeding is difficult, since even a pair of long-haired parents can produce babies with normal short hair.

Angora chinchilla color violet

Features of the appearance of Angoras:

• The main distinguishing feature of these animals is, of course, long silky fur. The angora chinchilla has a very fluffy luxurious tail and elongated hair on the legs and head;
• Angoras also differ from their relatives in having a more flattened and short muzzle, which is why they are also called Persian;
• long-haired rodents are smaller in size compared to their regular relatives.

Angora chinchilla color blue diamond

Important: the most expensive chinchillas in the world are representatives of the Angora breed. Their price can vary from one to several thousand dollars. Moreover, the more rare and unusual the animal’s color (blue diamond, violet, black velvet), the higher the cost of the rodent.

Angora chinchilla color black velvet

Dwarf chinchillas

Many people mistakenly think that dwarf chinchillas are a separate breed, but this is not the case. Miniature furry animals appeared as a result of a natural genetic mutation and the only way they differ from their counterparts is their small size. Mini chinchillas have a small compact body, short legs and a short, very bushy tail. only three hundred to four hundred grams and can fit entirely in the palm of a person.

Few breeders decide to start breeding dwarf chinchillas, as they consider this business troublesome and unprofitable. Mini chinchilla babies are born the same size as those of ordinary rodents, so miniature females experience difficulties during the birth process, and it is not uncommon for them to die. The babies of such females are born weak and many die in the first days of life.

As for colors, the color palette of small fluffy creatures is very diverse and in this they are no different from their large fellow tribesmen.

What types of chinchillas are there: color options

In their natural habitats, these animals have many enemies, and nature itself took care of their survival, giving them an inconspicuous and inconspicuous coat of grayish color. Indeed, thanks to the gray color of their fur, the furry animals blend into the surrounding rocky terrain, thus hiding from predators.

But since these creatures began to be bred in nurseries and on farms, breeders have set out to develop animals with new colors, resulting in individuals with white, black and beige fur. In the course of many years of breeding work, animals with such unusual and interesting colors as purple, sapphire and white-pink were bred.

What colors are chinchillas?

• gray color, also called agouti, is considered the standard for chinchillas;
• white fur color with varying degrees of shade saturation and interspersed with pinkish and beige tones;
• brown color or pastel, which ranges from light beige to rich chocolate shades;
• black color of the fur coat with different depths and saturation of shade;
• unusual and original colors such as purple, sapphire and pink.

Important: the colors of these rodents are divided into dominant and recessive. The dominant color is the one that appears immediately upon birth of the animal. In the recessive variant, the rodent does not have a specific fur color, but is a carrier of the gene responsible for a certain shade, and when crossed, can pass it on to its descendants.

Standard gray color of chinchillas

A gray coat is characteristic of both wild individuals and domestic chinchillas. But depending on the shade and depth of color, the gray standard is divided into moderately dark, light, medium, dark and extra-dark.

Light

Rodents with this color are characterized by light gray fur with a silvery tint. The belly, chest and paws are painted in a light, almost white tone.

Average

This is the most typical and common fur color of animals. The animals have a coat with a uniform gray tint, but with a lighter color on the stomach, legs and chest.

Dark

The animals have a gray-black coat with a blue tint, a coat that is lighter in color in the belly and chest area.

Moderately dark

Chinchillas have a dark gray coat with an ash tint on the paws, face and sides. The fur on the belly is bluish-white.

Extra dark

The animals' fur has a rich charcoal gray color, turning into a lighter shade on the sides and chest. The belly is colored light beige.

Breeds of chinchillas with white fur

Rodents with snow-white coats look very beautiful and aristocratic.

White Wilson

Representatives of this type have white fur, which is sometimes interspersed with grayish or beige shades. Chinchilla white Wilson comes in two varieties: silver mosaic and light mosaic.

White chinchillas of the first type have a white coat with a silver tint and darker hair on the head and base of the tail.

Animals with a light mosaic color have light gray spots scattered on their snow-white coat, and the scruff and ears are colored a darker gray.

Albino

Strictly speaking, these rodents cannot be called a separate breed. Indeed, among chinchillas, as among many animals, there are albinos, which are characterized by the absence of color pigment in their genes. These animals have a milky white coat and red eyes.

White Lova

A recently developed breed characterized by a creamy white coat and dark ruby ​​eyes.

White velvet

These are animals with a light coat, iridescent with a beige or silver tint and with spots of rich gray color on the front legs and head.

White-pink

The animals have milky white fur, pink ears and black eyes. Sometimes the fur on the back has a pinkish tint.

Animals with beige color

This color is also called pastel. Representatives of this breed have fur colored in all shades of beige, brown and red.

Interestingly, the fur coat of animals of this type becomes darker with age.

Homobeige

The animals have uniformly colored fur that is light beige, almost sandy in color. The ears have a pinkish tint.

Heterobeige

Heterobezh differs from the previous version in its uneven color. The animals' fur coat is beige, but the undercoat and tips of the hairs are darker brown.

Beige Tower

The color of the rodents' fur varies from light to dark beige. On the back there is a pattern of rich brown shades.

Wellman's beige

The animals have light beige fur, very light ears and black eyes.

Sullivan's Beige

Rodents have a rich beige coat and bright red eyes.

Brown velvet

The main color is beige, but the back and head of the animals are chocolate color. The belly is colored light sandy and sometimes white.

Ebony breed

This type is not distinguished by the color of its coat, since the color palette of ebony chinchillas is presented in various colors. Animals of this species have extremely shiny and iridescent shiny fur.

There are also several ebony options that differ from the standard.

Homoeboni (or charcoal)

It is considered one of the rarest and most valuable colors. The animals have a coal-black coat and black expressive eyes.

Chinchilla color charcoal

Heteroebony

These animals are characterized by dark shiny fur, combining black and gray colors.

White ebony

The animals have a snow-white coat with black coating on the ends of the hair. On the paws, head and base of the tail the fur is darker, gray or beige.

Chinchilla breeds with dark colors

In addition to homoebony, which has a rich black coat, one can also distinguish a breed of chinchillas with a dark color, which are called “black velvet”.

Black velvet

These are amazingly beautiful animals, with black fur on their back, sides, tail and head creating an incredible contrast with their light belly. The more pronounced the contrast between dark and light fur, the more valued chinchillas of this type are.

Rare chinchilla breeds

Breeders have managed to develop breeds with unusual and rare colors, such as purple or blue.

Violet

The animals have an amazing coat of light lilac or lavender color, contrasting with a white belly. There are dark purple blotches on the nose and ears.

Sapphire

One of the rarest and most beautiful breeds. The bluish or light blue coat color is combined with a white belly and pink ears.

Blue Diamond

Rodents of this type are even rarer than representatives with sapphire color. The animals have light blue fur with a metallic sheen and a dark pattern on the head and back.

Breeds, types and colors of chinchillas

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In the article I will list several popular colors of chinchillas: standard, velvet (black and brown), pastel, ebony (homo and hetero), beige, mosaic, white Wilson and others. I will also give a brief description of each type.

Existing colors of chinchillas

In total, there are more than 20 different color options for chinchillas.

Almost all options are the result of long-term selection work. Using the results of random mutations, breeders have developed many color variations that differ from each other not only in shades, but also in coat structure.

Among them there are both common shades (homobige, agouti) and rare ones with a complex genetic structure (blue slate, charcoal, white-pink ebony).

The color of a chinchilla can be dominant, manifested in the phenotype of the animal, or recessive, in which the animal is a carrier of the gene responsible for a certain shade.

Standard

Standard or agouti is the only color found in nature. The fur of such a chinchilla ranges from ashy to graphite. On the back it is darker, the sides are several shades lighter, the belly and tips of the paws are almost white. The hair is gray-blue with a black tip.

Includes a palette: from light beige to dark.

The first beige chinchilla was obtained in 1955.

The back is colored darker than the rest of the body, the belly is white. The ears are pinkish-beige with light pigment spots resembling freckles. The iris of the eyes is from pink to dark ruby.

Beige homozygous

The fur of such chinchillas is beige or cream, evenly colored and without pronounced zoning. The eyes are pink, sometimes with a blue rim. The ears are pale beige.

When crossing two beige individuals, non-viable offspring are born.

The fact is that the gene responsible for homozygous color is lethal.

In this version of the mosaic, the animal has white fur with blurry silvery areas. The head and base of the tail are colored darker.

The rules of inheritance of mosaic coloring have not yet been fully studied, so the color is rare and expensive.

The body is white, with a smoky veil running along the back.

Ears and head are gray. Eyes of a dark shade. Distinct gray spots are scattered throughout the body. Individuals with bright, clearly defined spots are considered the most valuable.

White-pink

Another name is beige mosaic. The coat is white with a beige tint and pinkish-beige or gray patches or without them. The ears are pale pink with pigment spots. The eyes are scarlet.

Help: to get a pet with this color you need to cross carriers of four genes at once, so this option is rare.

White - pink color

Black velvet

One of the most original colors in existence was obtained in the United States of America in 1961. The head and body of this fluffy creature are painted black, the sides are gray, and the belly is snow-white. Ears and eyes are dark.

The most valuable are those with dark, almost black sides.

The peculiarity of this color is the gradual development of color. Cubs are born with light fur, which begins to darken with age.

Help: the gene responsible for the black tint of the coat is lethal, so two black individuals cannot be crossed.

Brown velvet

The predominant color with this color is brown (from light to chocolate). On the sides it gradually turns into beige and becomes almost white on the belly. There is a dark mask on the head, the front and hind legs are covered with diagonal stripes. Eyes with a red tint. The fur on the hind legs is more voluminous.

Brightness and richness of color appear as they grow older.

At birth, the cubs are light brown, with a creamy tint. Saturation begins to appear after 3 months.

Another name is extradark. One of the rarest and most spectacular colors. The price for such a chinchilla reaches several thousand euros. The fur is thick, shiny coal-black, evenly colored. There are no streaks, veils or inclusions of other colors. Eyes and ears are black.

Heteroebony

This color is rare and expensive.

A heteroebony chinchilla can be:

• light. The base is white or beige combined with gray, brown or black.
• medium light. Cream or light brown with flecks of gray or brown.
• average. A combination of dark gray and white shades.
• dark. A combination of black and various shades of gray.

A distinctive feature of all the listed variations is a completely painted belly.

Fur color varies from light gray or white to lilac. The belly is white. The ears are dark gray with a bluish-whitish tint. The eyes are dark in color. The fur of such animals is thick and delicate.

The first purple chinchilla was bred in North Africa in 1960.

There are 2 color options for white ebony:

1. With a predominance of white or light beige color (extremely rare) and black spots.
2. With a predominance of black color and white markings.

The spots are located on the head, ears, paws, base of the tail and sometimes on the sides. Ears and eyes are dark in color.

Pastel

The color of the fur varies from cream to chocolate. The belly is slightly lighter or has the same color as the rest of the body. The ears are light beige, the eyes have a red tint.

Little chinchillas are born white and only acquire color after 3 months.

Sapphire

Animals with this color differ from their counterparts in their smaller sizes. Their coat is bluish-gray with an elongated graphite veil. The belly color is white. The ears have a thin light fringe. The eyes are dark.

The small number of carriers, complex genetics and susceptibility to disease make sapphire chinchillas one of the most difficult mutations to breed.

The first sapphire chinchilla was registered in 1963 in the USA.

Each of the listed color options is unique in its own way. They differ from each other in price, quality and structure of fur and genetic code. Therefore, when choosing a pet, you need to think in advance about the purpose of acquiring it. For breeding, it is better to take one of the owners of rare genes, from whom there will be a chance to get unique offspring. And for the role of a pet, you can choose a gentle animal without a pedigree.

Chinchilla ( Chinchilla) belongs to the order Rodents, suborder Porcupines, superfamily Chinchillaidae, family Chinchillaidae, genus Chinchilla.

Description of the chinchilla and photographs

Chinchillas have a round head and a short neck. The body is covered with thick soft hair, and hard hairs grow on the tail. The body length is 22-38 cm, and the tail grows 10-17 cm long. The weight of a chinchilla reaches 700-800 grams, while females are larger and heavier than males.

At night, chinchillas can easily navigate thanks to their huge eyes, which have vertical pupils. The whiskers of mammals grow up to 10 centimeters in length. Chinchilla ears are round in shape and have a length of 5-6 cm. In the ears there is a special membrane with which the chinchilla closes its ears when taking a sand bath.

The chinchilla's skeleton can be compressed in a vertical plane, so the animals can crawl into the smallest crevices. The hind legs of chinchillas are four-toed, and the front legs have 5 toes. The hind limbs are very strong and twice as long as the front ones, which allows mammals to jump high.

The life expectancy of a chinchilla reaches 20 years.

Do chinchillas have teeth?

Chinchillas have very strong teeth, just like all other rodents. They have 20 teeth in total: 16 molars and 4 incisors. Newborn babies have 8 molars and 4 incisors.

Interesting fact: Adult chinchillas have orange teeth. Cubs are born with white teeth, which change color as they age.

Chinchilla colors. What color are chinchillas?

Chinchillas have an ash-gray color and a white belly - this is the standard color of the animal. In the 20th century, more than 40 different species of chinchillas were bred, with over 250 shades of coat color. Thus, chinchillas come in white, beige, white-pink, brown, black, purple and sapphire colors.

Types of chinchillas

There are the following types of chinchillas:

• Small long-tailed chinchilla (coastal)
• Short-tailed (large) chinchilla

Male and female chinchilla

Chinchilla female larger than the male and weighs more. Males are more tame. But if you pick up the male first, not the female, the chinchilla may be offended and turn his back.

Where does the chinchilla live?

South America is considered the homeland of chinchillas. The short-tailed chinchilla lives in the Andes of southern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Chile. The long-tailed chinchilla lives only in certain areas of the Andes in northern Chile.

Thanks to their strong hind legs, chinchillas are capable of high jumps, and a developed cerebellum guarantees them excellent coordination. These are colonial animals that do not live alone. Chinchillas are most active at night. If there are no crevices or voids in their habitat, the chinchilla digs a hole.

What does a chinchilla eat?

Like all rodents, the chinchilla eats seeds, cereals, herbaceous plants, lichens, bark, moss, legumes, cacti, shrubs, and insects. In captivity, the animal eats dried foods: apples, carrots, nettles, hay, dried dandelions, nuts, as well as special foods that include wheat, corn, oats, barley, peas, lentils, beans, grass meal and other components. Chinchillas especially love dried fruits such as raisins, dried apricots, prunes, dried pears and apples, dried cherries, rose hips and hawthorn. You should not feed your chinchilla many fresh vegetables and fruits, as this can lead to stomach problems.

Chinchilla breeding

Chinchilla couples are monogamous. At the age of 7 months, the animals reach sexual maturity. The female can give birth to offspring up to three times a year. On average, two cubs are born, but sometimes more. Females remain pregnant for up to 115 days. The male becomes caring and helps the female care for the chinchillas. Small chinchillas are born with open eyes, with fur, and can move around on their own.

Sounds of chinchillas

If a chinchilla makes a sound similar to chirping or quacking, this means that the animal does not like something. When a chinchilla clicks its teeth very quickly or makes sounds similar to growling and blowing its nose, the animal is very angry. When a chinchilla hits or gets scared by something, it squeaks loudly. In case of danger, the chinchilla can attack the enemy. To do this, she stands on her hind legs, growls, releases a stream of urine and then grabs her teeth into the enemy.

Chinchilla - pet

Because of the beautiful and pleasant-to-touch fur of chinchillas, they were often hunted, which reduced their population. At the moment, there are chinchilla farms where animals are raised for their fur. The chinchilla has also become a popular pet. At home, the chinchilla lives in spacious cages and enclosures, and an already accustomed and accustomed animal can walk around the apartment.

• Chinchillas see poorly, but they are well oriented thanks to their sense of smell;
• The chinchilla does not have sweat glands, so it does not smell of anything;
• Chinchillas do not bathe in water, but in sand or dust: they do not stay on water and immediately get wet;
• Chinchillas can jump up to 2 meters and even higher, and they can also sleep upside down, vertically and horizontally;
• Chinchillas do not shed, but may shed their fur, especially when attacked.

Chinchillas are small furry animals from the order of rodents. Until recently, their production was carried out exclusively for commercial purposes, since their fur was highly valued at all times.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the species was in danger of complete extinction, so the animals began to be bred in special conditions. Now they are listed in the Red Book. Over time, chinchillas have become lovely pets, friendly and unpretentious.

General description of chinchillas

Due to the origin of the genus in harsh mountain conditions, chinchillas have long, thick fur. They have a short neck and a rounded head. The weight of the animal can reach up to 800 g, and females, as a rule, are larger than males by about 100 g. They can grow up to 37 centimeters in length. Thanks to their eyes with vertical pupils, chinchillas have excellent vision in the dark, and their vertically compressed skeleton allows them to crawl into narrow crevices. They have five pads on their front legs and four on their hind legs. The hind legs, strong and well developed, allow rodents to make high and long jumps. Chinchillas, with proper care and favorable conditions, can live up to 20 years.

Chinchilla breeds

Specialist breeders have identified two types of chinchillas: the small long-tailed (coastal, British) chinchilla and the large (short-tailed, Peruvian, royal). Both species are successfully bred on farms.

The large chinchilla, as the name of the breed suggests, is distinguished by its large size. Its length and weight can reach 40 cm and 900 g, respectively. This breed appeared in South America, but is no longer found in its natural habitat. This rodent is not suitable for keeping at home. But due to the high value of the animals’ skins, they are bred on specialized farms. Representatives of chinchillas of this breed have only those colors that nature has awarded them - gray in various shades.

But the long-tailed small chinchilla is a wonderful pet, looking like a plush toy. They have thick shiny fur, large intelligent eyes, a long tail and are in good health. Like short-tailed chinchillas, long-tailed chinchillas are practically never found in natural conditions, since the species was exterminated due to the extraction of valuable chinchilla fur.

Photo: chinchilla and fur products

Video: main colors of chinchillas

Chinchilla color

Standard gray- This is the natural coat color of chinchillas. All large short-tailed chinchillas have this color.

Angora. It is distinguished not by color, but by long, light fur. Breeding such a subspecies is not an easy task, since the gene responsible for hair is difficult to fix. Even under the supervision of experts, an ordinary baby can be born from two angoras.

Beige chinchilla Tower. The most common subspecies. Their fur comes in all shades of beige. The pigmentation is more intense at the roots and ends of the hair.

White Wilson Based on the shade of their fur, they are divided into mosaic, silver and albino.

White Lova. This new color morph was developed quite recently, at the beginning of the third millennium. These rodents are characterized by a champagne shade. They are distinguished from the previous subspecies by red eyes.

Blue Diamond. The most rare species of animals, it is bred by a limited number of nurseries around the world. Blue velvet color comes in two forms - purple sapphire and velvet.

Violet. This shade has several options - violet velvet, German violet, homobeige white velvet, Sullivan violet, white, beige. A chinchilla of this color has very soft fur.

Sapphire(white, sapphire, sapphire ebony, sapphire velvet). This subspecies is very rare, so the shade is difficult to breed.

Velvet(color: white, brown, black). Quite a common variety. A velvet chinchilla can be obtained by crossing a male with a dominant velvet gene and any female.

Beige diamond. Among these rodents, there are white-pink ebony, basic white-pink and velvet, so such pets have a color from white to light pink.

Ebony. Chinchillas of the Ebony variety have bright, shiny fur in all shades of silver-gray.

Pastel(pastel velvet, original pastel, homobeige, chocolate). These rodents come in all shades of beige.

Dwarf chinchilla. Such animals are the result of a genetic mutation. Producing such pets is a very difficult matter, as females have a hard time with the process of giving birth, and the offspring can be weak. Dwarf chinchillas weigh 300 g and come in a variety of colors.

Video: chinchilla breeds

Rules for crossing chinchillas to obtain high-quality fur

When artificially breeding chinchillas, beginning farmer-breeders face some difficulties. In order to produce healthy animals with high-quality fur, crossbreeding experts have developed an animal production technology.

Only healthy chinchillas without inherited diseases should participate in crossing.

The animal must have a body weight of at least 500 g and be at least eight months old.

The female and male are selected so that their advantages and disadvantages are balanced and compensate each other.

You cannot cross chinchillas if both have a dominant velvet gene. The same applies to white rodents, since the white gene is lethal.

Mosaic coloring can be passed on from parents to children, or it can only be passed on through a generation. Therefore, the appearance of animals with such a shade is unpredictable.

There are no restrictions when breeding beige chinchillas.

The female gives birth to one to three young animals, and the pregnancy lasts 15-16 weeks.

Before giving birth, the female must be separated from the male in a separate cage.

When children turn two months old, they are separated from their mother, provided that their weight has reached two hundred grams.

An accomplished mother should be periodically given a break from her children and their father, having undergone a course of treatment with vitamins and calcium.

On an industrial scale, to make chinchilla breeding profitable, experts use polygamous breeding technology. It consists in the fact that one male must fertilize several females. As a rule, there are from five to eight chinchilla girls per representative of the stronger sex. They live as one family in a common cage.

This method of breeding rodents is not without its advantages. This is achieved thanks to the special equipment of the farm and the design of common cages. For a successful skin business, it is important to breed chinchillas with the same coat color. The price also depends on the color and quantity of fur of the same shades. With artificial breeding and crossing on farms, polygamous families are formed. This is exactly where the development of this business is planned.

Read on the pages of the business portal Coordinator Info:

The rabbit was named chinchilla due to the similarity of the rabbit's color to the color of this gray animal. The Soviet chinchilla breed was obtained by crossing a Russian ermine rabbit with wild and blue Baveren rabbits ★★★☆☆

Kingdom: Animals

Type: Chordata

Class: Mammals

Squad: Rodents

Family: Chinchilla

Genus: Chinchillas

View: Chinchilla

Where do chinchillas live?

The habitat of rodents is the Andes mountain system in South America at an altitude of 400 to 5000 m; they are adapted to life in the mountains. Their skeletons compress vertically, allowing the animals to crawl through narrow vertical cracks. A well-developed cerebellum allows the animals to move perfectly on rocks. Large black eyes, long whiskers - vibrissae, large oval ears - are not an accident - this is an adaptation to a twilight lifestyle. With the help of these devices, the rodent sees well and hunts at night. When a threat approaches, they attack, stand on their hind legs and can bite with their teeth.

Chinchillas in history

When the Spanish conquerors reached the shores of South America, the warm fur clothing of the local population aroused their admiration. The fur received the name “chinchilla” from the Spaniards in honor of the Chinchas Indian tribe. Intensive fishing for chinchilla fur began for delivery to Europe. This led to the virtual extermination of wild chinchillas. Many attempts to breed chinchillas in captivity have failed. Since the movement of chinchillas from the mountains to the valley ended in their death. The first who was able to move chinchillas from the mountains, as well as transport them to North America, was M. Chapman.

In 1923, he managed to bring 11 chinchillas (eight males and three females) to the United States, which can be considered the ancestors of almost all animals living on farms today. He managed to get offspring from the first three females. After the success of M. Chapman, extensive development of the experience of breeding chinchillas in captivity began in North America and Canada, and later in Europe and South Africa. Much selection work by farmers from all over the world has led to the color mutation. Wilson white, beige, and black velvet were the first to be received. Currently, chinchillas have gained great popularity among lovers of exotic animals.

General description of chinchillas

There are only two types of chinchillas: the small long-tailed and the large, they differ from each other in the size of their body parts. Long-tailed chinchillas are the most common species, so further external descriptions will refer specifically to them. Their historical habitat is the Andes. Due to long-term living in a harsh climate, they acquired thick and warm fur. Its density is more than 25,000 hairs per square centimeter. These herbivores have a small, round head.

Individuals can be up to 37 cm in length, with a tail up to 18 cm long, and it contains guard hairs. The ears are round in shape up to 5 cm, whiskers (whiskers) up to 10 cm. Chinchillas' vision is monocular and weak. The skeleton is capable of shrinking in a vertical plane, which allows rodents to crawl into small crevices. There are 4 toes on the hind paws and five on the front paws.

Black eyes with vertical pupils help them to be nocturnal. A well-developed cerebellum helps them perfectly coordinate their movements. There are 20 teeth, including 4 incisors and 16 molars. The gums are well developed, the molars are tightly and deeply fixed in them. Newly born animals have 8 molars and 4 incisors, respectively. The incisors protrude strongly and invariably grow, covered with reddish-yellow enamel and narrow. Their back side is completely devoid of enamel; there is dentin.

A typical gray chinchilla. The incisors of rodents have the function of biting off food particles. Molars, as in humans, are usually divided into molars and premolars. Their sizes can reach 12 mm. The first are large teeth, and they are located on the back side of the jaw. They perform the function of mechanical processing of food, grinding. There is also a special gap between the incisors and premolars - the diastema. Chinchillas only have one set of teeth for their entire lives.

Some types of chinchilla coloring

At home, chinchillas are mainly bred in the following colors: standard gray, black velvet, white, beige, homobeige, ebony, purple, sapphire. When these colors are crossed with each other, more than 200 different combinations of hybrids arise, some of them have a complex genetic structure and are developed in several stages.

Standard gray

Wild natural color, carrying two recessive genes - aa. Crossing parents of similar colors produces similar offspring. Among standard gray chinchillas, light standard, medium standard and dark standard are distinguished, since the color of the fur can vary from light gray to dark gray with a bluish tint on the back and sides and from white to bluish-white on the abdomen. On the curves of the body you can observe a play of tones, since the lower part of the hair is black or bluish, the middle part is white, and the upper part is black.

Black velvet

The color was first developed in 1960 in the USA. Distinctive features of this color are black diagonal stripes on the front legs, black color of the back and head, and white belly.

Chinchillas of this color cannot be crossed with each other, as they have a “lethal gene”, which negatively affects the quality of the offspring. Crossing with other colors produces the following main types of hybrids: white velvet (with Wilson's white); brown velvet (with heterobeige); purple velvet (with purple in two stages); sapphire velvet (with sapphire in two stages), etc.
Wilson's white, mosaic (or white velvet), silver. This color, first obtained in 1955 in the USA, is dominant and contains a “lethal gene”. The appearance of heterozygous individuals is different, the color of the fur ranges from snow-white to dark silver.

White chinchillas

Carriers of a recessive “lethal gene” that appears as a result of crossing two white parents. Therefore, animals that are carriers of this gene are not crossed with each other.

Recessiveness is a form of relationship between two genes in which one of them has a less strong influence on the corresponding characteristics of an individual than the other.

In relation to the standard gray, the white gene is dominant, and as a result of crossing, both white and standard animals are born.

Color white velvet

Can be obtained by crossing black velvet and white Wilson. As a result, the individual receives white, black velvet and standard genes. White velvet, which has the effect of double dominance, is characterized by white fur, a dark “mask” on the head, and dark gray diagonal stripes on the front legs.
You should avoid crossing white velvet with animals of the following colors: white velvet, black velvet, brown velvet, purple velvet, sapphire velvet, as well as white, white-pink, white ebony. This is due to the fact that white velvet carries two “lethal genes”, characteristic of white Wilson and black velvet.

Beige color

It was first received in 1955. Animals in which beige is the dominant color have pink to dark red eyes and pink ears, sometimes with black dots. Fur color varies from light to dark beige. Dominance is a form of relationship between paired genes, in which one of them has a stronger influence on the corresponding characteristics of an individual than the other.

Beige chinchillas are homozygous, so they interbreed well with others. The result is wonderful hybrids.

Beige homozygous

AND Animals of this color do not have the “lethal gene” and can be homozygous. Beige homozygous chinchillas are distinguished by light cream fur with a pinkish tint, pink ears, light pink pupils with a light blue or white circle around the pupil.

As a result of crossing a homobeige animal with a standard one, heterobeige puppies are born. When heterobeiges are crossed with each other - hetero- and homobeige individuals, the most successful pairs for which are white-pink, brown velvet, white velvet, velvet heteroebony, velvet homoebony.

Heterozygous beige

The combination of two heterozygous beige chinchillas produces 25% homozygous beige, 50% heterozygous beige, 25% gray animals.
Crossing a heterozygous beige and a standard gray will produce an equal number of heterozygous beige and standard gray chinchillas.

Brown velvet

Obtained as a result of crossing the colors black velvet and beige. Hybrids of this species have a white belly and back - from light to dark shade. To prevent the number of cubs in the litter from decreasing, it is not recommended to crossbreed animals with the black velvet gene.

White-pink

Obtained as a result of crossing beige and white chinchillas with beige, white and standard genes.

Due to double dominance, there is the possibility of the expression of beige and white genes. The ears of such animals are pink with black dots, the eyes are from pink to dark ruby, and the fur is white. The presence of brown spots of various shapes and locations is allowed.

Homoebony

Color has not yet been thoroughly studied. Chinchillas of this color are distinguished by a beautiful shine and particularly silky fur. However, breeding such animals is quite a difficult task, since homoebony grows slower and is smaller in size compared to other hybrids.

Heteroebony

The genotype of animals of this color contains standard and ebony genes. Obtaining a dark heteroebony chinchilla is possible by crossing a male of a similar color with a light standard female.

The resulting individuals can be light, medium, dark, very dark. Crossing with a beige animal results in the appearance of a pastel color. Heteroebony is the result of crossing homoebony and standard chinchilla, homoebony and heteroebony, heteroebony and standard, heteroebony with each other.

Velvet ebony

Velvet ebony are hybrids of black velvet, homoebony and heteroebony, having black velvet, standard and ebony genes.

The presence of the velvet gene in heteroebony is determined by the dark color of the back and the “mask” on the head. Velvet homoebony is distinguished by light fur on the sides and dark colored fur. The diagonal black stripes on the paws are not visible. The black coloration of the belly indicates the presence of the ebony gene.

Velvet heteroebony

Obtained by crossing heteroebony with black velvet, velvet homoebony - by combining velvet heteroebony with homoebony or heteroebony. These individuals have shiny fur, close in decorativeness to the color of homoebony. However, it is undesirable to cross velvet chinchillas with each other due to the presence of a “lethal gene”.

Purple color

Relating to recessive mutations, it appears only in the homozygous state. The result of crossing with standard chinchillas are standard animals that carry the purple gene, which is not manifested externally. The fur color of such animals varies from light to dark lilac. The abdomen is snow-white in color.

The purple color is quite rare, as purple chinchillas only begin to breed at 14–18 months. But despite the difficulties that fur farmers face when breeding, these hybrids occupy the second most popular place in European countries after animals carrying ebony genes.

Purple velvet

A hybrid of black velvet, homoviolet, having the gene for black velvet, standard and purple. The animal's fur is dark lilac, its belly is white, and diagonal dark stripes are located on its paws. The black velvet gene affects the base purple color, making it darker.

The hybrid is bred in two stages: by combining black velvet and purple chinchillas, animals with the black velvet genotype are obtained - a carrier of purple, which are then crossed with purple. The resulting puppies can have different colors, one of which is ultraviolet.

Sapphire

The sapphire color is recessive. When crossed with a standard chinchilla, puppies are obtained that are standard carriers of sapphire, which does not appear externally. The combination of two sapphires or one sapphire and a sapphire carrier results in sapphire animals. The color of the fur remains the same throughout the animal's life.

In 1967, the first purple chinchilla appeared in Zimbabwe. Her cubs were purchased in 1975 by a Californian fur breeder, who began breeding animals of this color.

Lifestyle

The biology of chinchillas in natural habitats has been little studied; basic data on behavior, reproduction, and physiology are obtained in artificial conditions. Most of the data relates to long-tailed chinchillas due to their mass breeding in captivity.

A highly developed cerebellum provides good coordination of movements necessary for safe movement on rocks.

Chinchillas are herbivores. Their diet is based on various herbaceous plants, mainly cereals, as well as seeds, mosses, lichens, shrubs, tree bark, and small insects. In captivity, they eat only dried foods (such as dried apples, carrots, hay, nettles and dandelion roots), granules as the main food.

Chinchillas make very interesting sounds: when they don’t like something, they make a sound similar to a quack or chirp. If you make them very angry, they begin to make sounds similar to growling or blowing their nose, and sometimes click their teeth very quickly. If they get hit hard or get very scared, they can squeak very loudly. But chinchillas are not defenseless - when threatened, they can attack: they stand high on their hind legs, begin to “growl”, release a stream of urine, and then cling with their teeth.

What do chinchillas eat?

Chinchillas feed on various herbaceous plants, mosses, cereals and legumes, as well as shrubs, cacti, tree bark, and also insects.

Chinchilla breeding

Chinchillas reach sexual maturity at the age of eight months. Whenever possible, they create monogamous pairs. Pregnancy lasts quite a long time - 105 - 110 days, so females can give birth no more than two to three times a year. Usually 2-4 almost fully developed babies are born. Their eyes are open, their teeth have erupted, they are completely covered with hair and are able to move independently.

Chinchilla at home

Behavior

Chinchillas are not so easy to tame, but once they get used to their owner, they become the kindest and very sociable pets.

Each chinchilla is, first of all, an individual. The animal can be obstinate and capricious, or it can have a truly angelic character. But much in a pet’s behavior depends on how correctly the owner handles its taming.

However, there are traits that are common to all chinchillas. These are extremely inquisitive, lively and smart animals. When getting a chinchilla, you should understand that the peak activity of these rodents occurs at night. In addition, chinchillas are very talkative. They can coo, grumble or hoot, and an attentive owner, having studied the habits of his pet, can easily determine his mood just by his “manner of speech.”

If you are not afraid of the possible prospect of waking up at night from the noise made by the animal, get a chinchilla without hesitation. These are very interesting, curious and open animals, which often become our best friends.

Taming a chinchilla

You need to tame a chinchilla gradually and in no case immediately after moving to a new place, because in the first days in a new home the rodent experiences stress. It is recommended not to disturb the chinchilla for at least 3-4 days after the move, so that it can adapt to the new conditions in a comfortable manner. When your pet feels calmer, begin to accustom him to holding hands.

To do this, simply open the cage and place your hands, palms up, before leaving. Use a little trick and place a treat on your palm to lure the rodent. If the chinchilla is in no hurry to climb into your palm, you should not rush things and pull it out of the cage: such “taming” will not bring the desired effect, but will only make the animal more timid. Just try again the next day. When your chinchilla first climbs into your palm, don't immediately start petting it and picking it up. First, she should just get used to your smell and understand that you are not a threat to her. Gradually, she will begin to calmly allow herself to be picked up, stroked, placed on her shoulder, and will not be afraid of you at all.

Health and life expectancy

Chinchillas are strong and hardy rodents, real long-livers. The average life expectancy is 8-10 years, but in captivity, with good care, chinchillas often live up to 20 years or more. It is worth considering that rodents are very shy and frequent stress has an extremely negative impact on their health.

The chinchilla is a fairly large and very active rodent, which for a comfortable and fulfilling life requires a spacious cage (minimum 60x50x60 cm for one individual). It is best to choose a cage with metal rods and a pull-out tray. The metal is resistant to moisture and disinfectants, and the pull-out tray makes cleaning much easier. By the way, the cage must have a strong and reliable lock, since smart chinchillas are passionate door burglars and escape lovers.

A chinchilla's cage must include a feeder and water bowl, a mineral stone for grinding teeth, wooden shelves, a house in which the rodent will rest, and a hay barn. A special filler is placed at the bottom (corn filler or sawdust), never paper or cotton wool.

Your pet will be grateful to you if you give him a running wheel (with a diameter of 30 cm), special toys, rings, all kinds of ladders and even a hammock made of thick fabric.

As for washing, in nature chinchillas bathe in sand, and getting water on their fur is undesirable. A bath with sand, as a rule, is not installed in the cage, otherwise the chinchilla will overuse “bath procedures”, which will dry out its skin. The best thing to do is to provide your rodent with a bath while you clean the cage. Busy with business, the pet will not get in the way, and you can calmly put its home in order.

Garbage is removed from the cage daily, and general cleaning with replacement of the filler is carried out at least once a week.

The cage should be located away from drafts, direct sunlight, heating devices and strong sources of noise.

Feeding

Never give chinchillas food from the table! Unnatural food for them causes bloating and digestive disorders.

The best choice for chinchillas is special ready-made food. All ingredients in their composition are selected taking into account the needs of the chinchilla’s body, and the elements are carefully balanced.

Chinchillas have very sensitive digestion, and the diet of these animals must be approached responsibly. Any deviations from the correct diet can cause significant harm to the body and cause severe distress.

A chinchilla's daily diet must include hay. It is advisable to use hay from trusted brands, it is purified and completely safe. For treats, use dried apples, pears, carrots, rosehips, etc. They are given in limited quantities and in no case replace the main diet.