What is Chinchillidae?
{{Taxobox | name = Chinchillidae | fossil_range = late [[Oligocene]] – Recent | image = Chinchilla.jpg | image_caption = ''[[Chinchilla]] brevicaudata'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Rodent]]ia | subordo = [[Hystricomorpha]] | infraordo = [[Hystricognathi]] | parvordo = [[Caviomorpha]] | superfamilia = [[Chinchilloidea]] | familia = '''Chinchillidae''' | familia_authority = Bennett, 1833}} The family '''Chinchillidae''' contains the [[chinchilla]]s, [[viscacha]]s, and their [[fossil]] relatives. They are restricted to southern and western [[South America]]. Often they can be found in the [[Andes]]. They are large [[rodent]]s, weighing from 800&nbsp;grams to 8 kilograms. They have strong hind legs and large ears. All species have thick, soft [[fur]]. Their fur is considered valuable in some species.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Bishop, Ian|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/702 702]|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref> == 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== {{reflist}} *McKenna, Malcolm C., and Bell, Susan K. 1997. ''Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level.'' Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp.&nbsp;{{ISBN|0-231-11013-8}} * Woods C. A. and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2005. Hystricognathi pp.&nbsp;1538–1600 ''in'' D. E. Wilson and M. A. Reeder, eds. ''Mammal Species of the World'', 3rd edition, p.&nbsp;1553. [[Category:Rodents]]