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Chinchillidae - chinchillas, viscachas

Southern Mountain viscachaThere are seven species in this family. They are all found in South America. They have thick, very soft fur; large ears; big eyes; and bushy tails. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs. They live in colonies. Most species, except for the plains viscacha, live in rocky crevices or burrows in the mountains. Plains viscacha live on the plains and dig burrows.

World Status Key
Least Concern Least Concern Near Threatened Near Threatened Vulnerable Vulnerable Endangered Endangered Critically Endangered Critically Endangered
extinct in the wild Extinct in the Wild extinct Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.


US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None   None

Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North/Central America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH Species

Short-tailed Chinchilla - Chinchilla chinchilla Critically Endangered South America
Long-tailed Chinchilla - Chinchilla lanigera Critically Endangered South America
Northern Mountain Viscacha - Lagidium peruanum Least Concern South America
Southern Mountain Viscacha - Lagidium viscacia Least Concern
South America

  Wolffsohn's Viscacha - Lagidium wolffsohni South America
Lagostomus crassus extinct South America
Plains Viscacha - Lagostomus maximus Least Concern South America

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Southern Mountain Viscacha - Lagidium viscacia profile Photos Video Least Concern South America
The southern mountain viscacha looks like a long-tailed rabbit.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Long-tailed Chinchilla - Chinchilla lanigera profile Photos Video Critically Endangered South America
The long-tailed chinchilla is often kept as a pet.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School