The family Chinchillidae contains the chinchillas, viscachas, and their fossil relatives. They are restricted to southern and western South America, often in association with the Andes. They are large rodents, weighing from to , with strong hind legs and large ears. All species have thick, soft fur, which is considered valuable in some species.

Classification

There are three extant and three fossil genera currently recognized.

• †Eoviscaccia incertae sedis
• Subfamily Chinchillinae
• Chinchilla - chinchillas
• Lagidium - mountain viscachas
• Subfamily Lagostominae
• Lagostomus - plains viscachas
• †Pliolagostomus
• †Prolagostomus

References

• McKenna, Malcolm C., and Bell, Susan K. 1997. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp. ISBN 0-231-11013-8
• Woods C. A. and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2005. Hystricognathi pp. 1538-1600 in D. E. Wilson and M. A. Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, p. 1553.