| Chinchilla TYPES |
| First, you maybe familiar with the three basic subspecies from the wild that make up the domestic chinchilla. Brevicaudata - From the higher parts of the Andes, above 15,000 feet. These had largest bodies, broad head, smaller blue ears, short tail and more docile. Purebreeds would have a brownish tinge and a wavy texture to the longer coat. It was a large well fured chinchilla with a good full neck and long coat. The strength of the Brevicoudata's long fur was of concern. There maybe several sub species called "the short tail chin", another referred to as the King Chinchilla, and a smaller strain known as chinchilla boliviana may still exist in small pockets in the wild. These strains have upto a 128 day gestation period. MORE Costina^ - These native chins developed closest to sea level with longer ears, longer tails and are considered more high strung then Breviaudata. They are also said to be of a type showing narrow bodies and pointed face. Costina are the ones that are credited for contributing the rich blue fur color to the domestic chinchilla. They had a rather short fur, not too dense, but good strength. Lanigera* - This type of chin was native to the moderate levels on their mountain home. Lanigera is said to the intermediate of their upper and lower level cousins. Lanigera was the best production strains. The original Lanigera chinchillas showed a wide range of colour (light bluish grey to those showing a distinct brownish colour). This is the variety primarily found in South America today. Purebreds are said to have narrow head and shoulders, long ears and tail. The gestation period is 111 days. ^*There is also the debate over long tailed chinchilla .. is it in the Lanigera? ... or the Costina family? What about the Raton (dwarf) chin or the La Plata? Are these subspecies of one of the two smaller types^* OR is it a natural hybrid where these two have mutal range? I welcome any discussion or opinions. You can look around your chins and probably see the different characteristics of certain type examples armed with the above knowledge. I have seen this is a line of ebonys. While the patriarch tend to be more costina in size and ear/tail type, his blunt noses if that of Brevicaudata. Most of his offspring have been with a lanigera/brevicauta type female, he has had sons from a few other females that are more like him and even one that is more costina. You must have set goals when breeding. We look for health, size and color. We are breeding for pets, not pelts. Coat quality is important, but we have no chinchilla shows in the area to compete in open classes. Other relatives - The Degu- Guinea Pigs (cavy) - Viscacha - Others - Pika - Patagonian Cavy or Mara - The Chinchilla Dwarf Rabbit - "Chinchilla" is used as a color description for colors of rabbits, cats and gerbils NOTE: These are not chinchillas, but other species! |
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| I do not promote trapping or pelting. This information is provided simply as part of the origin and history of our hobby. If you find this past distasteful, please proceed to the BOTTOM. |
Other trappers views on wild chinchillas... The Californian (Chapman) was not the only one to be taken with the Chinchilla. Natives cherished the animal's fur and had been making warm, lightweight garments from it. This took place long before the first Spanish Explorers arrived in South America in the 1500's. Once the explorers spotted the garments, they had insisted on adding these pelts to their cargoes for taking on their return trips. They introduced the chinchilla pelts to Europe, where they became known as the fur of the princes and princesses. They were used to trim royal robes and gowns. Sir Richard Hawkins, an Englishman, also had an admiration for the chinchillas. He described them in the following terms in a book he wrote in 1953: "They (South Americans) have little beasts like unto a squirrell, but that he is gray; his skinne is the most delicate, soft, and curious furre that I have seene...They call this beast chinchilla, and of them they have great abundance." Sad facts Of the 21 million killed, Iriarte (1986) reports that 7,179,640 pelts were exported from Chile between 1828 and 1916 (Jimenez, 1994). Chile enacted protection in 1898 but protection from hunting was probably too late... As early as 1937, people recognized chinchilla populations had been severely altered but could probably "re-establish itself in 7 or 8 years" (Bidlingmaier, 1937). Since Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas- CNR's establishment 15 years ago, the animal has not re-established itself. Populations within the reserve continue to decline without clear explanations (Jimenez, 1994). 1926 Nature Magazine Article Chinchilla -- A Vanishing American 1933 Popular Science Monthly Three American Chinchilla Farms Produce Most Costly Furs! |