the two living species of chinchilla are "chinchilla chinchilla" (formerly known as "chinchilla brevicaudata") and "chinchilla lanigera". "c. chinchilla" has a shorter tail, a thicker neck and shoulders, and shorter ears than "c. lanigera". the "c. chinchilla" are currently facing extinction and the "c. lanigera", though rare, can be found in the wild. domesticated chinchillas are thought to be of the "c. lanigera" species.