the chinchilla has the densest fur of all mammals that live on land. the chinchilla is named after the chincha people of the andes, who once wore its dense, velvet-like fur. by the end of the 19th century, chinchillas had become rare after being hunted for their soft fur. most chinchillas currently used by the fur industry for clothing and other accessories are farm-raised. domestic chinchillas come from "c. lanigera" are sometimes kept as pets.