“How many types of chinchillas are there?” is a surprisingly confusing question. Pet websites often use “types,” “breeds,” “species,” and “colors” as if they mean the same thing. They do not. For pet owners, the most important distinction is between the chinchilla species and the many domestic coat-color varieties produced through breeding.
What Species Is a Chinchilla?
Current Merck Veterinary Manual guidance identifies the domestic chinchilla as Chinchilla lanigera. Domestic pet chinchillas are not separate species simply because they have different colors or appearances.
Long-Tailed and Short-Tailed Chinchillas
The names “long-tailed chinchilla” and “short-tailed chinchilla” are commonly used when discussing chinchillas in the wild. The distinction refers to different wild chinchilla forms/species discussed in zoological literature, not to ordinary pet color varieties.
For a pet owner choosing a chinchilla, the practical point is that domestic chinchillas kept as pets are generally Chinchilla lanigera. Coat color should not be confused with species.
What Are Chinchilla Color Varieties?
Domestic chinchillas occur in several inherited coat colors. Merck lists dark blue-gray as the dominant common color and also identifies beige, white, ebony, sapphire, violet, charcoal and velvet varieties.
- Standard / dark blue-gray
- Beige
- White
- Ebony
- Sapphire
- Violet
- Charcoal
- Velvet
Are Chinchilla Colors Different Breeds?
No. A beige, ebony or sapphire chinchilla is not a different species merely because its coat looks different. These are inherited color varieties within domestic chinchillas, produced through genetics and selective breeding.
What Is a Chinchilla “Breed”?
“Breed” is often used casually in pet listings, but it can create confusion. Unlike dog breeds, many names used in chinchilla communities describe coat colors or genetic combinations rather than separate species. If a breeder advertises a particular “type,” ask what the term actually refers to: species, coat color, pattern or a genetic combination.
Where Do Wild Chinchillas Live?
Wild chinchillas are associated with the Andes of northern Chile and live in rocky, relatively barren environments at high elevations. Merck describes them living in burrows or rock crevices and being well adapted for running.
Do Different Types Need Different Care?
Normal pet care is not determined by coat color. Domestic chinchillas need appropriate high-fiber nutrition, safe housing, dust bathing, exercise, fresh water and gentle handling regardless of whether the coat is gray, beige, white or another recognized variety.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species of chinchilla are there?
Taxonomy can be presented differently across references, but current veterinary guidance identifies the domestic chinchilla as Chinchilla lanigera. Do not count coat colors as separate species.
What is the most common type of chinchilla?
For pet owners, the familiar standard or dark blue-gray coat is the common domestic color described by Merck.
Are sapphire and violet chinchillas different species?
No. Sapphire and violet are domestic coat-color varieties, not separate species.
Are long-tailed and short-tailed chinchillas the same?
The terms refer to wild chinchilla forms/species discussed in zoological literature. They should not be confused with domestic coat-color varieties.
Bottom Line
The biggest mistake in “types of chinchillas” articles is mixing species, breeds and colors. Domestic pet chinchillas are generally Chinchilla lanigera, while selective breeding has produced many coat-color varieties. Understanding that distinction makes it much easier to evaluate breeder terminology and care information.
Research: Merck Veterinary Manual and our guide to chinchilla colors.
