Chinchilla lanigera (Molina 1782) and C. chinchilla (Lichtenstein 1830): review of their distribution and new findings

Millions of Chinchilla chinchilla and C. lanigera were killed during the early twentieth century and they were nearly hunted to extinction. In order to establish the current range of distribution of these two wild species and to localize possible new colonies, we used the available scientific litera...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Valladares, P., Zuleta, C., Spotorno, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona 2014-06-01
Series:Animal Biodiversity and Conservation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC_37-1_2014_pp_89-93.pdf
Description
Summary:Millions of Chinchilla chinchilla and C. lanigera were killed during the early twentieth century and they were nearly hunted to extinction. In order to establish the current range of distribution of these two wild species and to localize possible new colonies, we used the available scientific literature, technical reports, information from residents, and live trapping methods. Both species are ‘critically endangered’ since their current distribution is highly fragmented and all recognized colonies are small and isolated. We report a small new wild colony of C. lanigera in the Atacama region, Chile.
ISSN:1578-665X