Author Jo Ann
of Luv 'N Chins
Dictionary of Common Chinchilla Terms
acidophilus - live culture bacteria used to replace the "good bacteria" used to digest food in the intestines of chinchillas. Often used when chinchillas are on anti-biotic because anti-biotic will kill all bacteria ... the good and the bad.
allele - a term used in genetics to describe 1 of 2 forms of a gene sharing the same location making up the chromosomes in the genetic chain. Some alleles are dominant and some recessive.
blocky - Refers to a chinchilla's overall appearance/shape that is desired in chinchillas when looking at it from above. The shoulders and hips should be very close to the same with, having the appearance of a brick.
Breeding:
Inbreeding - Breeding within the immediate family (i.e. father to daughter, mother to son, sister to brother).
Line-Breeding - A type of inbreeding, but with the extended family of the chinchilla (i.e. grandparent to grand child, aunt to nephew, ect).
Cross Breeding (outcrossing) - Breeding chinchillas that are not related to each other.
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bumblefoot (ulcerative pododermatitis) Bacterial infected sores usually caused by bacteria entering the body via cracks in the skin, cracks or splits usually caused by keeping a chin on a wire floor constantly, causing it to get sores or abscesses on it's feet.
carrier - A chinchilla carrying a single recessive gene from one parent, but no obvious signs of it in the chinchilla's appearance. (i.e. a standard/violet carrier looks like a standard, but is carrying a violet gene from one of it's parents). These are usually know as heterozygous. A chin can carry more than one recessive gene.
chin-proofing – the act of preparing a room/rooms for the free-play outside it's cage of a chinchilla(s). This includes, but is not limited to: 1. removing or securing food, chemicals and cleaners that would kill a chin if eaten or gotten into (some foods we eat, will kill a chinchilla), 2. closing off any openings 1" square or larger (chins can squeeze into the smallest of places), 3. removing or covering any and all containers of liquids, from drinks to a toilet bowl (chins are not suppose to get wet), 4. enclosing or unplugging any and all electrical wires (no crispy critters, please), and 5. lay in the floor and get a "chin's eye-view" of all it may find to get into or play with (chins are curious creatures and avid explorers).
chromosomes - Structures within the center of the cell that house the genes which determine what a living thing will look like. Chinchillas have 64 chromosomes.
collar - A metal device placed around the female chinchilla's neck to keep her from getting into the run and getting into another females' cage and possibly getting into a fight.
deluxe mix - A name usually used to describe chinchilla pellets mixed with lots of treats ... a 'no-no' for your chin.
dominant gene - The gene that determines the outward appearance (phenotypically) of the chinchilla. The dominant gene cannot be "carried".
dust bath - A container used by a chinchilla to take it's bath in.
dust bath dust - Volcanic ash chinchillas take their bath in to remove the excess oils in the fur and keep it clean.
exotic pet vet - A vet that has had special training with exotic animals, not your regular vet that cares for the domestic animals such as cats and dogs.
feline distemper - a cat pneumonia - highly contagious and deadly to chinchillas.
fur rings - Fur that often gathers around the penis of the male chin after mating. Fur rings need to be removed by the breeder, if the chin does not remove it. Complications can result if the fur ring tightens or is not removed.
giardia - A deadly parasite that is thought to be dormant in most animals. It is also known as the 'opportunistic parasite' because it lies in wait until the system/condition of a chinchilla is down/or weakened, then it will take over, many times resulting in the death of the chinchilla.
genotype - An animals genetic makeup.
gestation period - The time it takes from conception to the delivery of the kit. Usually an average of 111 days for chinchillas, but can vary from 105 to 120 days.
guard hairs - The 'stiffer', longer hairs that help to hold the other fur in perfect position.
Gunning Black - black velvet, TOV, velvet - A chinchilla having a black face, back and tail, blending on the sides into a gray, then to a snow white belly. The black velvet has a lethal factor for the kits when bred to another black velvet chinchilla. The black velvet, when mated with a beige can produce a brown velvet colored chinchilla.
heterozygous - a chinchilla carrying two different forms of a gene/alleles (i.e. standard/violet carrier)
homozygous - a chinchilla carrying two identical forms of a gene/alleles (i.e. a violet chinchilla)
jump hole - "pophole" the hole used by the male in a ranch run cage set up to go from one female's cage to another.
jump hole cover - the cover/door used to block off the jump hole to keep the male from entering the female's cage after she has delivered her kit/kits and to keep the kits from being able to wander into other female's cages (something that can be fatal for a kit).
kit - A baby chinchilla.
lava stone - pumas stone - Used by chinchillas to keep the front teeth worn down to the proper size.
lethal factor - The term used for what happens when two heterozygous colors of the same color mate (if that color is white or TOV) that will result in 25% of the kits not developing.
litter - What the kits are called when a mother chinchilla has when she gives birth.
Malocclusion - When a chinchilla's teeth have been allowed to become over grown and have grown into the jaw, tong, and/or brain of a chinchilla. This is usually a slow painful death.
mating plug - A waxy plug made by the male and left inside the female to keep the sperm inside the female until it/they have time to fertilize the egg/eggs. The plug is later pulled out by the female or is expelled and often eaten.
mutation - Any chinchilla that is not a standard gray. Gray is the original color of all chinchillas.
oestrus cycle - The number of days between two cycles when a female chins goes into season, usually 25 to 40 days
pinched neck - An undesirable trait in a chinchilla. The chinchilla's neck appears to "dip" deeply between the head and back.
phenotype - An animal's appearance/characteristics, the way they look.
placenta - afterbirth
pophole - jump hole - The opening in cages for the male to be able to get in and out of each female's cage in a ranch run.
ranch run - A type of cage that consist of several cages connected by a run (enclosed wire hallway) used by the male to go from one female's cage to another.
spray - The act of spraying urine by the female in self defense of herself and/or her kits. Also used to deter the advances of the male and/or to separate her fighting kits if they are to the point that they might injure each other.
standard - standard gray - the natural color of chinchillas
superfoetation - The fertilization during the same season/oestrus cycle of an additional egg/eggs several days after the original embryo is already started developing in the same uterus. This is rare, but does happen. Usually the latter one will be born either obviously much smaller or may not have enough time to develop fully and will appear as a still birth. More detailed information on this can be see on Azure Chinchillas at: http://www.azure-chinchillas.co.uk/pages/superfoetation.php There have also been cases where there is the fertilization of another egg/eggs in the second uterus in the following cycle ... as a general rule, these are not developed enough to survive, but will be expelled (miscarried) during the labor which delivers the kits in the first uterus.
swirl - Referring to an undesirable swirling pattern in the fur.
"Swish-Swish Tail Dance" - The 'antics' of the male chinchilla when he wants to mate with the female. During this 'dance' the male chin will do a little 'hop-hop', then swish his tail from side to side and repeat this until the female accepts or declines his advances.
teats - The nipples used to nurse the kits. A female chinchilla has two separate sets, one on each side. Should one side stop working, the other side will usually still work.
TOV - Touch of Velvet - The reference to a pattern of coloring/veiling on some chinchillas. The darker color (black or brown) covers the face, back and tail of the chinchilla, blending down the sides to a lighter shade of the same color until it meets the white fur of the belly. Usually they will have a dark stripe across the top of the front paws when born that will sometimes fade away. These are known as black velvets or brown velvets.
treats - Special food you give your chin at special times - or to bribe him/her into doing what you want them to do. These are not to be mixed with their regular chinchilla pellets.
"Wilson White" - also known as White, Silver, Mosaic, Reverse Mosaic - This refers to the color of chinchilla's fur ranging from an almost all white to a solid silver color. Sometimes the white fir is 'tipped' in gray or has gray guard hairs or can be mostly gray with some white on the tail and other spots. It has varying patters or spots of gray, gray ears, gray pads and dark eyes. This chinchilla when mated with another white chinchilla carries the lethal factor.
uterus - Chinchillas have two of these and has the capability to carry kits in both at the same time.
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