Animals that start with C – Chinchilla

Cartoon Chinchilla | Alphabetimals.com

Chinchilla

Ready to meet the fluffiest, friendliest, and furriest rodents around? Discover the coolest chinchilla fun facts just for little adventurers! Join Albert as he explores cute chinchilla facts for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. Click on the images to hear silly sounds and then read about fun chinchilla facts like what do chinchillas look like?, what sound do chinchillas make?, how big are chinchillas?, what do chinchillas eat?, where do chinchillas live?, and more fun facts about chinchillas!

Albert thumbs up

What do chinchillas look like?

Chinchilla close up

Photo by Filipe Ramos (CC BY 2.0)

Chinchillas are mammals which means that they are warm-blooded, have fur and they feed milk to their babies. 

They are rodents like mice and rats. They have silvery-gray and black fur which is velvety soft. They have long ears a bit like a rabbit and a long bushy tail, a bit like a squirrel. 

Cute cartoon boy saying shhhh

What sound do chinchillas make?

Cartoon Chinchilla | Alphabetimals.com
Microphone

Click the the image to hear the sound!

Cheetahs make lots of different sounds.

They make growls, chirps and purrs when they are happy. But can also yelp, moan and hiss when they are angry.

Cute cartoon boy measuring with a stick

How big are chinchillas?

Cartoon Chinchilla | Alphabetimals.com
Cartoon Jackrabbit | Alphabetimals.com

Chinchillas are 9 -14 inches (23 to 36 centimeter) long with 3–6-inch (7-15 centimeter) tails. 

They are a similar size to rabbits.

Cute cartoon boy opening a lunchbox

What do chinchillas eat?

Insect
Leaves
Berries
Cartoon seed

Chinchillas are omnivores which means that they eat plants and meat. They eat insects, leaves, fruits and seeds.

Cute cartoon boy looking at a map

Where do chinchillas live?

Highlands background
Cartoon Chinchilla | Alphabetimals.com

Chinchillas only live in South America. They like rocky and mountainous areas. They like to hide in burrows and rocks.

More fun facts about chinchillas for kids

  • If a predator tries to catch and eat a chinchilla it can protect itself. It can spray pee at the predator and shed fur if it gets bitten. 
  • Groups of chinchillas are called herds. That’s the same name for cows!
  • Chinchillas can jump up to 6 feet (1.8 metres). That’s the length of a door!
  • Chinchillas usually live for 10 years in the wild or up to 20 years as pets.
  • Chinchillas like to live in the mountains. They can survive very high up (16,000 feet, 4,800 meters) where it is very cold. Sometimes it’s as cold as 23 °F (-5 °C). To keep them warm, chinchillas have very thick fur.
  • Chinchillas like to have baths. Not the kind of baths that we have with water and bubbles. They like to have dust baths. They pick up dirt and dust and rub it into their fur, then they roll around in it. This removes grease and loose material from their fur.
  • Female chinchillas can have babies twice a year. They usually have 2 babies, or kits, each time. These kits drink their mother’s milk for 6-8 weeks. 
  • Unlike rats and mice which are born naked (without any fur), chinchillas are born fully clothed! They have all their fur when they are born and their eyes are open. 

Sources: Wikipedia, Live Science, Creative Commons, Britannica.com and Freesound.org

Cartoon boy reading a book - Alphabetimals

Alphabetical list of animals that start with C

A full alphabetical list of popular animals that start with the letter C for toddlers and preschool kids.

  1. Caiman
  2. Camel
  3. Capybara
  4. Caracal
  5. Cassowary
  6. Cat
  7. Caterpillar
  8. Catfish
  9. Centipede
  10. Chameleon
  11. Cheetah
  12. Chicken
  13. Chimpanzee
  14. Chinchilla
  15. Chipmunk
  16. Cicada
  17. Civet
  18. Clown Fish
  19. Coati
  20. Cobra
  21. Cockroach
  22. Coral
  23. Cougar
  24. Cow
  25. Coyote
  26. Crab
  27. Crane
  28. Crocodile
  29. Cuttlefish

Which one should be the next Alphabetimal? Let us know on our facebook page.


All animals A-Z


Animal phonics alphabet


Animals that start with common phonics digraphs


Animal facts for kids


Other animal collections

Alphabetimals ABC Game Cards
Alphabetimals HUGE Alphabet Fun Pack
Alphabetimals Drawing and Coloring Pack

Try our Printable Alphabet Worksheets! Download a FREE SAMPLE or preview all 200+ on Etsy.com or TeachersPayTeachers.com