Once found across parts of Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, this species now survives only in small, scattered populations due to centuries of overhunting. Compared to its close relative, the long-tailed chinchilla, the short-tailed species has a sturdier build, a rounder body, and—true to its name—a shorter, fluffier tail. Its appearance is almost plush-like: thick gray fur, soft rounded ears, and a dense, bushy coat that gives this animal a distinctive, bundle-shaped silhouette.

Life in the Andes is harsh, but the short-tailed chinchilla is perfectly adapted to the cold, rocky environment. Found at altitudes often above 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet), it survives freezing nights and dry winds with the help of its extraordinary fur. This species has some of the densest fur of any mammal on Earth, containing up to 80 hairs per follicle—an essential adaptation that protects it from mountain chill but also tragically made it a target for the fur trade. Its body is built for agility as well: strong hind legs allow it to leap between rocks, while its flexible spine helps it squeeze into tight crevices to hide from predators such as foxes and birds of prey.

Short-tailed chinchillas are social animals that live in colonies, sometimes with dozens of individuals sharing a network of burrows and hiding places. These groups help the animals stay safe from predators and also support shared foraging. Their diet consists mostly of tough mountain vegetation—grasses, shrubs, seeds, and bark. Their ever-growing teeth are perfectly designed to handle fibrous plants and hard seeds. Because water is scarce in their environment, they get most of their moisture from plants, an adaptation that lets them survive in dry, windswept terrain where few other mammals thrive.

One of the most charming and iconic behaviors of the short-tailed chinchilla is its dust-bathing habit. Instead of bathing with water, which can become trapped in their dense coat and cause illness, chinchillas roll vigorously in volcanic ash or fine dust. This removes oils and keeps their fur clean, fluffy, and healthy—a necessity for survival in their high-altitude homes.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Argentina

2016

Presence Uncertain

Bolivia

2016

Presence Uncertain

Chile

2016

Peru

Official estimate

EX

Extinct locally