Know Your Chinchilla Breeds
Unlike many other small pets, chinchillas do not have distinct "breeds" in the traditional sense. There is essentially one species of chinchilla kept as a pet, but within that species, there is a stunning array of color mutations and coat types that have been developed through selective breeding.
The Two Chinchilla Species
There are two living species of chinchilla, but only one is commonly kept as a pet.
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Long-Tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera): This is the species found in virtually all pet homes, rescues, and breeders. They are the domesticated chinchilla, descended from wild populations in the Andes Mountains of Chile. [1]
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Short-Tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla): This species is larger and stockier, and is extremely rare in captivity. It is considered critically endangered in the wild and is not found in the pet trade. [2]
Color Mutations in Pet Chinchillas
The standard color of the wild chinchilla is Standard Grey — a beautiful blue-grey with a white belly and dark tipping on each hair. Through selective breeding, many other color mutations have been developed.
| Color Mutation | Description |
|---|---|
| Standard Grey | The wild-type color. Blue-grey coat with a white belly and dark tipping. |
| Beige | A warm, sandy tan color. Comes in light, medium, and dark shades. Beige chinchillas have red or ruby eyes. |
| White Mosaic | White with irregular patches of grey or beige. |
| Black Velvet | A dramatic black dorsal stripe and face with a lighter grey body. |
| Ebony | A solid, deep black coat from head to tail. |
| Violet | A cool, blue-grey color with a distinctive violet hue. |
| Sapphire | Similar to violet but with a slightly different, brighter blue-grey tone. |
| Pink White | A white chinchilla with a warm, pinkish hue. Has red eyes. |
| Tan | A warm, reddish-brown color. |
[3]
Coat Types
Beyond color, there are also a small number of coat type mutations.
- Standard: The typical, dense, ultra-soft coat found on the vast majority of pet chinchillas.
- Angora (Royal Persian Angora): A rare mutation that produces a dramatically longer coat, similar to an Angora rabbit. Angora chinchillas require significantly more grooming than standard chinchillas. [4]
- Locken: A rare mutation that produces a wavy or curly coat.
References
[1] Nelson Road Veterinary Clinic. (n.d.). Chinchillas. https://www.nelsonroadvet.com/articles/exotics/pocket-pets/chinchillas/
[2] San Diego Zoo. (n.d.). Chinchilla. https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/chinchilla
[3] Sunshine Chinchillas. (n.d.). Chinchilla Colors/Mutations. https://www.sunshinechinchillas.com/chinchilla-colors-mutations
[4] Chinchillas.com. (n.d.). Chinchilla Breeds. https://www.chinchillas.com/resources/chinchilla-breeds