Chinchillidae
The family Chinchillidae contains the chinchillas, viscachas, and their fossil relatives. They are restricted to southern and western South America, often in association with the Andes. They are large rodents, weighing from 800 g (28 oz) to 8 kg (18 lb), with strong hind legs and large ears. All species have thick, soft fur, which is considered valuable in some species.[2]
Classification
There are three extant and three fossil genera currently recognized.
- †Eoviscaccia incertae sedis
- Subfamily Chinchillinae
- Chinchilla - chinchillas
- Lagidium - mountain viscachas
- Subfamily Lagostominae
- Lagostomus - plains viscachas
- †Pliolagostomus
- †Prolagostomus
References
- ^ Woods, C. A. and Kilpatrick, C. W. 2005. Infraorder Hystricognathi. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 1538-1599. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- ^ Bishop, Ian (1984). Macdonald, D.. ed. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 702. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
- McKenna, Malcolm C., and Bell, Susan K. 1997. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp. ISBN 0-231-11013-8
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Chinchillidae Bennett, 1833
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"Chinchillidae." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 26 Mar 2011, 08:57 UTC. 22 Apr 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinchillidae&oldid=424021983>.
