Types and breeds of chinchillas with photos and names of different colors

Many people are used to believing that these fluffy rodents are exclusively gray. But in fact, the colors of chinchillas are quite diverse, because for decades experts have been breeding with them, achieving new colors and shades of their amazing fur.

Varieties of chinchillas

There are only two types of these animals: a small long-tailed chinchilla and a large short-tailed chinchilla (or Peruvian). They differ from each other only in size and length of the tail.

The homeland of large short-tailed chinchillas is Bolivia and some areas of the Argentine Andes, but in natural conditions these animals are no longer found, as they were completely exterminated due to valuable fur. Now short-tailed chinchillas are bred on special farms. Representatives of this species have a strong body, from thirty to forty centimeters long, and their weight ranges from five hundred to eight hundred grams. The short tail is covered with stiff hairs.

Ordinary or long-tailed chinchillas are called coastal, and they are still found in the wild, mainly in the highlands of the Chilean Andes. Rodents differ from their large relatives in their more miniature size (body length is from twenty to thirty centimeters) and a long tail covered with luxurious hair. The animals weigh no more than seven hundred grams.

Important: both of these types of chinchillas have almost the same gray color, but as a result of breeding work with a small long-tailed chinchilla, breeds with more than forty colors and different shades of fur were bred.

angora chinchilla

The angora or royal chinchilla is a subspecies of the common long-tailed chinchilla. As is the case with pygmy rodents, long-haired animals appeared due to natural mutation, not targeted selection, although chinchillas with long fur have long been the ultimate dream of many breeders.

Although the first mention of these animals dates back to the sixties of the last century, it was only in 2001 that the Angor standard was fixed.

The fact is that their breeding is difficult, since even a pair of long-haired parents can have babies with ordinary short hair.

Features of the appearance of angoras:

• The main distinguishing feature of these animals is, of course, long silky fur. The angora chinchilla has a very fluffy luxurious tail and elongated hair on the paws and head;
• Angoras also differ from their relatives in a more flattened and short muzzle, which is why they are also called Persian;
• long-haired rodents are more miniature in size compared to ordinary relatives.

Important: the most expensive chinchillas in the world are representatives of the Angora breed. Their price can vary from one to several thousand dollars. Moreover, the more rare and unusual the color of the animal (blue diamond, violet, black velvet), the higher the cost of the rodent.

Dwarf chinchillas

Many people mistakenly think that dwarf chinchillas are a separate breed, but this is not the case. Miniature fluffy animals appeared as a result of a natural genetic mutation and the only thing they differ from their counterparts is their small size. Mini chinchillas have a small compact body, short legs and a short, very fluffy tail. Small rodents weigh only three hundred to four hundred grams and can fit entirely in the palm of a person.

Few breeders decide to start breeding dwarf chinchillas, as they consider this business troublesome and unprofitable. Baby mini chinchillas are born the same size as those of ordinary rodents, so miniature females have difficulty giving birth, and it is not uncommon for them to die in the process. Babies in such females are born weak and many die in the first days of life.

As for colors, the color palette of small fluffy creatures is the most diverse, and in this they do not differ from their large fellow tribesmen.

What are chinchillas: color options

In their natural habitats, these animals have many enemies, and nature itself took care of their survival, endowing them with an inconspicuous and inconspicuous fur coat, of a grayish color. Indeed, due to the gray coat color, fluffy animals merge with the surrounding rocky terrain, thus hiding from predators.

But since these creatures began to be bred in nurseries and on farms, breeders set out to breed animals with new colors, resulting in individuals with white, black and beige fur. In the course of many years of breeding work, animals were bred with such unusual and interesting colors as purple, sapphire and white-pink.

What color are chinchillas?

• gray color, which is also called agouti, is considered the standard of chinchillas;
• white color of fur with varying degrees of saturation of the shade and interspersed with pinkish and beige tones;
• brown color or pastel, which ranges from light beige to rich chocolate;
• black color of a fur coat with different depth and saturation of a shade;
• unusual and original colors such as purple, sapphire and pink.

Important: the colors of these rodents are divided into dominant and recessive. The dominant color is the color that appears immediately at the birth of the animal. In the recessive variant, the rodent does not have a specific fur color, but is a carrier of a gene responsible for a certain shade, and when crossed, it can pass it on to descendants.

Standard gray color chinchillas

The gray coat is characteristic of both wild individuals and domestic chinchillas. But depending on the shade and depth of color, the gray standard is divided into moderately dark, light, medium, dark and extra-dark.

Light Coloured

For rodents with this color, light gray fur with a silvery overflow is characteristic. The belly, chest and paws are painted in a light, almost white tone.

Average

This is the most typical and common color of animal fur. Animals have a coat with a uniform gray tint, but with a lighter color on the belly, legs and chest.

Dark

The animals have a gray-black coat with a blue tint coat, which has a lighter color in the abdomen and chest.

Moderately dark

Chinchillas are painted in a dark gray coat with an ashy tint on the legs, muzzle and sides. The belly is bluish-white.

extra dark

Fur in animals has a rich coal-gray color, turning on the sides and chest into a lighter shade. The belly is painted in a light beige tone.

Chinchilla breeds with white fur

Rodents with a snow-white fur coat look very beautiful and aristocratic.

White Wilson

Representatives of this type have white fur, which sometimes has blotches of grayish or beige shades. Chinchilla white Wilson can be of two options: silver mosaic and light mosaic.

White chinchillas of the first type have a white coat with a silvery overflow and darker hair on the head and base of the tail.

In animals with a light mosaic color, light gray spots are scattered on a snow-white coat, and the scruff and ears are painted with a darker gray color.

Albino

Strictly speaking, these rodents cannot be called a separate breed. Indeed, among chinchillas, as among many animals, there are albinos, which are characterized by the absence of a color pigment in the genes. These animals have a milky white coat and red eyes.

White Lova

A recently bred breed characterized by creamy white coloration and dark ruby ​​eyes.

White velvet

These are animals with a light fur coat, iridescent beige or silvery hue and with specks of rich gray color on the front legs and head.

White-pink

The animals have milky-white fur, pink ears and black eyes. Sometimes the hair on the back has a pinkish tint.

Animals with beige color

This color is also called pastel. In representatives of this breed, the fur is colored with all shades of beige, brown and red.

It is interesting that the fur coat of animals of this type becomes darker with age.

Gomobeige

Animals have uniformly colored fur of light beige, almost sandy color. The ears are pinkish.

Heterobeige

From the previous version, heterobezh differs in uneven color. The coat of the animals is beige, but the undercoat and tips of the hairs have a darker brown color.

Beige Tower

The coat color of rodents varies from light to dark beige. On the back there is a pattern of rich brown shades.

Beige Wellman

The animals have light beige fur, very light ears and black eyes.

Beige Sullivan

Rodents have a rich beige fur coat and bright red eyes.

brown velvet

The main color is beige, but the back and head of animals are chocolate-colored. The belly is painted in light sand, and sometimes white.

Ebony breed

This type is not distinguished by the color of the wool, since the color palette of ebony chinchillas is presented in various colors. Animals of this species have extremely shiny and iridescent shiny fur.

There are also several options for ebony that differ from the standards.

Homoebony (or charcoal)

It is considered one of the rarest and most valuable colors. The animals have a coal-black fur coat and black expressive eyes.

Heteroboni

These animals are characterized by dark shining fur, combining black and gray colors.

White ebony

Animals have a snow-white coat color with black coating on the tips of the hair. On the legs, head and base of the tail, the hair is darker, gray or beige.

Breeds of chinchillas with a dark color

In addition to homoebony, which have a rich black coat, one can also distinguish a breed of chinchillas with a dark color, which are called “black velvet”.

Black velvet

These are amazingly beautiful animals, in which black hair on the back, sides, tail and head creates an incredible contrast with a light tummy. The more pronounced the contrast of dark and light fur, the more valued chinchillas of this type.

Rare breeds of chinchillas

Breeders managed to breed breeds with an unusual and rare color, for example, purple or blue.

Violet

The animals have an amazing coat of light lilac or lavender color contrasting with a white tummy. There are dark purple blotches on the nose and ears.

Sapphire

One of the rarest and most beautiful breeds. The bluish or light blue color of the coat is combined with a white belly and pink ears.

Blue diamond

Rodents of this type are even rarer than representatives of the sapphire color. The animals have light blue fur with a metallic sheen and a dark pattern on the head and back.

White-pink (beige) diamond

Also very rare and valuable pink chinchillas with pearl white coat. Animal fur casts a delicate pinkish tint. Ears are pale pink.

Surprisingly beautiful, gentle and cute animals have long gained popularity and love of fans around the world. And the grandiose work of breeders gave the world fluffy creatures with bizarre and original colors. The colors of rodents amaze with their magnificence and diversity, which only contributes to their popularity among lovers of exotic pets.