Characteristics
Standard Gray Chinchilla Facts You Should Know...
- Chinchillas are rodents native to South America
- Chinchillas are most closely related to porcupines, guinea pigs, and agoutis.
- They use their front paws like fingers to hold their food.
- Their life span averages eight to twelve years.
- Chinchillas are herbivores.
- When a chinchilla is upset it will make spitting and growling noises.
- Females are usually larger than males.
- Chinchillas are nervous and sensitive animals. They are very strong willed and independent. If a young animal is raised up in a stressful environment (like a classroom or a noisy pet shop) it can live a “normal” life.
- Males are called bucks and females are called does.
- Baby chinchillas are nidifugous, meaning they are born fully developed and independent.
- When handling a chinchilla, grasp the base of its tail with one hand and put your other hand under the chinchilla’s belly to lift it up and sit it on your arm.
- Never pick up a chinchilla by the end of its tail or by its fur.
- Gray is the standard chinchilla color, however selective breeding has produced several other colors.
Source: Jack Hanna’s Ultimate Guide to Pets
Prepared by: Lucinda Miller, Leader, Ohio 4-H Small Animal Leadership Team
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