Common Mountain Chinchilla

The Southern viscacha is a charming rodent belonging to the Chinchillidae family. These small creatures inhabit the mountainous regions of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, living in small groups among rocky terrains. Visually, they might remind you of rabbits due to their long ears and hind legs, but they are not related to rabbits at all.

Viscachas have yellowish-grey fur on their upper bodies and a black-tipped, bushy tail. Their fur is long and soft, giving them a cuddly appearance. Typically weighing around 3 kg, they are found at elevations ranging from 700 to an impressive 5,100 meters above sea level.

These animals are most active during dawn and dusk, spending this time foraging for grasses, moss, and lichens. During the day, they enjoy sunbathing, grooming themselves, and resting. Breeding usually occurs towards the end of the year. After a gestation period of about 130 days, the female gives birth to one or occasionally two well-developed pups.

Communication among viscachas involves a variety of calls, and they must stay vigilant as they are preyed upon by the Andean mountain cat.

Despite experiencing population fluctuations due to adverse weather, the Southern viscacha is generally common and locally abundant. They are hunted for their meat and fur, but fortunately, they are still classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. The average lifespan of a viscacha in the wild is not well-documented, though one individual in captivity lived up to 19 years.