A chinchilla is a small rodent native to the Andes mountains in South America, specifically found at high elevations up to 4,270 meters (14,000 feet)

. There are two species of chinchillas: Chinchilla chinchilla and Chinchilla lanigera , with the latter being the species most commonly kept as pets

. Chinchillas are known for their extremely dense and soft fur, which is the densest of all land mammals, with about 20,000 hairs per square centimeter

. This fur was historically prized for clothing, which led to overhunting and a drastic decline in wild populations, making them rare in the wild today

. Physically, chinchillas are small, about 9 to 14 inches long with an additional 3 to 6-inch bushy tail, and weigh around 1 to 2 pounds

. They have large, rounded ears, big dark eyes, a plump body covered in dense fur, and whiskers. Their appearance is somewhat similar to a small rabbit but with a longer tail and more rounded ears

. Chinchillas are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk, and they live in social groups called herds, which can range from 14 to 100 individuals

. In the wild, they inhabit rocky crevices and burrows and are agile jumpers, able to leap up to 1.8 meters (6 feet)

. As pets, chinchillas are quiet, clean, and odorless rodents with a calm demeanor, making them suitable for older children and adults. They can live up to 20 years in captivity and require special care such as dust baths to maintain their fur health, as their dense fur should not get wet

. In summary, a chinchilla is a small, soft-furred rodent from the Andes, valued for its fur and kept as a pet due to its gentle nature and unique characteristics