Family CHINCHILLIDAE

(VISCACHAS AND CHINCHILLAS)

• Medium-sized, rabbit-like rodents, with large eyes and ears, long and dense hair, and long brushy, well-furred tail.

• 35-110 cm.

• Neotropical Region.

• Semi-arid and arid plains to grasslands, low shrublands, and high-elevation steppes in western and southern South America from sea level to 6000 m.

• 3 genera, 6 species, at least 8 extant taxa.

• 2 species Critically Endangered; 1 species Extinct since 1600.