User:Max Vestappen/Chinchilla

Function (hearing)
Different from humans, chinchillas' auditory sensitivity was measured for tones over the range from 0.09 to 22.8 kHz. In addition, a few animals were tested at 32.0 kHz. The level of their tones are between 0.62 and 6.0 kHz. The chinchilla's threshold is about 2.4 dB sound‐pressure level (SPL). Also their hearing abilities may change based on different situation. Under the low frequencies condition, sensitivity declines about 5 dB/oct from 0.62 to 0.19 kHz, and about 17 dB/oct from 0.19 to 0.09 kHz. For high frequencies, sensitivity declines about 7 dB/oct from 6.0 to 16.0 kHz, and about 22 dB/oct from 16.0 to 22.8 kHz. Domestic Chilean chinchilla's middle ear conductive apparatus is attached to surrounding cavity by suspensory ligaments, and thus is free to move independently. The single axis for the mobile middle ear of chinchilla passes through the center of gravity. When ossicles are in motion, no force is generated that would cause them to move out of axis. Bearings or suspensory ligaments, because they lie on axis, minimize resistance. Large mass of anterior process malleus also is distributed evenly, reducing moment of inertia, and probably contributing to high-frequency response.

As pets
The domestic chinchilla is descended from Chinchilla lanigera, the long-tailed Chinchilla, and the more common one in the wild after the other species, short-tailed Chinchilla, has been hunted nearly to extinction. Therefore, domestic chinchillas have thinner bodies, longer tails and larger ears.

Chinchillas are popular pets, though they require extensive exercise and dental care, due to their teeth continually growing throughout their life span. Dental abnormalities are common in chinchillas, although knowledge of the lesions responsible for the clinical signs is incomplete. Clinical signs commonly attributed to malocclusion, such as ventral mandibular swelling, weightloss, dysphagia, altered chewing pattern and chaged food preferences. It is concluded that provision of a diet with physicial properties more closely matching that of wild chinchillas should imporve the dental health of captice animals. and since they lack the ability to sweat, and the dense fur they have, they require a temperature-controlled environment.

The animals instinctively clean their fur by taking dust baths, in which they roll around in special dust made of fine pumice, a few times a week; they do not bathe in water. Their thick fur resists parasites, such as fleas, and reduces loose dander.

As pets, Chinchilla not only need scrupulous physically care, like temperature control, diet control, but also psychological care, which refers to simply, playing with them. It is probably correct to say that the chinchilla is more sensitive psychologically than physically. It can survive an astonishingly bad diet, mistreatment and poor physical environment if the psychlogical factors in its environment such as are caused by moving the animal from its accustomed quarters or shipping it. Spending a few minutes to give them some touches or let them out from the cage would satisfy their basic emotional need.

Chinchilla is a nocturnal animal, which means that they would be active at night and be sleepy and drowsy at daytime. Based on this trait, playing with them at evening or night and leave them alone at day would be great choice.

 For Industry 

Chinchilla fur trade on an international level goes back to the 16th century. Their fur is popular due to its extremely soft feel, which is caused by the sprouting of 60 hairs (on average) from each hair follicle. The color is usually very even, which makes it ideal for small garments or the lining of larger ones, though some large pieces can be made entirely from the fur. A single, full-length coat made from chinchilla fur may require as many as 150 pelts, as chinchillas are relatively small. Their use for fur led to the extinction of one species, and put serious pressure on the other two. Though it is illegal to hunt wild chinchillas, they are now on the verge of becoming extinct because of continued poaching. Domesticated chinchillas are still bred for fur. Chinchilla skins have high commercial value as well. Chinchilla skins are more satisfactory for loose wraps, capes, jackets, neckpieces, and muffs than for coats. The National Chinchilla Breeders' Association of America has drawn up a code of ethics to govern the transactions of its members.