ENDANGERED SPECIES
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
SHORT TAILED CHINCHILLA
Short-tailed chinchillas are rather small rodents ( mammals ) related to rabbits , squirrels and porcupines , to name a few , and their tails , which grow up to 150 millimetres ( 6 inches ) long are shorter than those of their long-tailed cousins . These cuddly creatures range from 225- 380 millimetres ( 8.85-15 inches ), and only weigh 400 - 800 grams ( roughly 1-2 pounds ). Their dense , bluish-gray fur is very fine ; 60 hairs grow from each follicle ! Nocturnal , chinchillas emerge from their burrows or rocky crevices in Argentina ’ s northern arid Andes mountains , where they live in colonies of hundreds , to feed on vegetation , insects , and bird eggs . Huddling together in their burrows helps them keep warm when it ’ s cold .
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