chinchillas

Fluffy Andean rodents

Chinchillas are small, soft-furred rodents native to the Andes Mountains of South America, prized for their exceptionally dense, silky coats.

They are kept as exotic pets and historically were hunted nearly to extinction for their fur, which remains among the most valuable in the world.

Our chinchilla loves to take dust baths.

The word also refers to the fur itself or to garments made from it.

animal

rodent

Gnawing mammal order

furAnimal body hair
whiskersFacial sensory hairs
tailRear animal appendage

ears · nocturnal · herbivore · Andes · South America · burrow · colony · dust bath · hay · pellets

pet

cage

Barred confinement structure

wheelRotating circular frame
exerciseActivity for fitness
beddingMaterials covering a mattress

treats · veterinarian · handling · taming · bonding · playful · curious · temperament · socialization · lifespan

fur

pelt

Fur-bearing animal skin

coatOuter garment or layer
densityMass-to-volume ratio
softnessYielding to gentle pressure

luxury · trade · farming · harvesting · garment · texture · warmth · ethics · ban · fashion

Categories

mammalsbears, bats, sheep, cats, anteater
petsdog, dogs, cats, puppy, kitten
pet keepingcats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs
plant-eatersherbivores, grazers, browsers, cows, horses
rodentsmouse, rat, guinea pig, squirrel, mice
dust bathingchickens, sparrows, quail, finches, wrens

Opposites

rodent pet type

chinchillasrats

Long-tailed urban pests

mice · guinea pigs · hamsters · gerbils

fur-bearing animal type

chinchillasnaked mole rats

Hairless colonial burrowing rodents

desert rats · armadillos · kangaroo rats

Phrases

chinchilla coatOuterwear from soft-furred rodent
chinchilla furPelt from Andean rodent

Family

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G