Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
CHINCHILLIDAE - CHINCHILLAS
A single species of large, superficially rabbit-like, open-country rodent with long ears, large eyes and a long tail with a crest of long hairs along the dorsal side. The pelage is smooth and dense, much valued by the fur-trade. The body is slender and the head broad with long, stiff whiskers. The legs are short, the hindlegs longer and stronger than the forelegs. Four toes on each foot, the feet bearing soft pads on the underside. Incisors are long and thin. Molars have a pattern of transverse laminas without cement and grow continuously through life. Gregarious, living in colonies.
Skull: Auditory canal located dorsally with access foramen at the base. Mandible lacks cresta masetera and has a slender angular process. Lachrymal is large and lachrymal canal opens laterally on the snout. Well-developed bullae.
REFERENCES
Diaz MM & Barquez RM 2002 - Los Mamíferos de Jujuy, Argentina - LOLA
Emmons LH & Feer F 1999 - Mamíferos de los Bosques Húmedos de América Tropical - FAN Bolivia
Redford K 1992 - Mammals of the Neotropics Vol 2: The Southern Cone Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - University of Chicago Press.
