Diet of Wild Chinchillas

Current (main) habitat:

General information about feeding behavior

In their native habitat chinchillas feed on a variety of plants. According to the study by A. Cortes et al. (2002), they have been proven to utilize at least over half of the flora growing in their area as food. Primarily, the grass species Nasella chilensis (sweet grass) is used as a main food component. Other plant material identified through feces analysis includes succulents (i.e., water-storing plants), other grasses, various shrubs and herbaceous plants, as well as a small amount of seeds (0-4%).

The examination of chinchilla feeding behavior reveals that it varies not only significantly between different seasons and locations but also from year to year. For instance, in years with high rainfall, herbs constitute the majority of their preferred diet, followed by shrubs and bushes. In wetter years, there is a range of approximately 21 different plant species available. During more rainy, mild seasons (winter), chinchillas consume more fresh food compared to dry summers when they consume more dried plant material and seeds.

It can be reasonably assumed that the variety of plants consumed by chinchillas is much greater than originally thought. It should be noted that in Cortes' study, some plant fibers and other plant material found in the feces of wild chinchillas could not be identified. Additionally, the study focused solely on wild chinchillas living in the national Chinchilla Reserve, which was established to protect chinchillas from extinction in the wild. Earlier original habitats and other current habitats were not considered in the study. Another issue lies in the structure of the plants: while fruits and seeds can be almost completely digested and are therefore hardly detectable in the feces, other plant organs are overrepresented in feces due to their higher indigestible fiber content. For example, Serra (1979) mentions a preference of wild chinchillas for fruits, which could not be confirmed in the Cortes feces study due to the aforementioned difficulty in identification.

Overall, chinchillas are considered dietary generalists, as evidenced by all the previous studies, due to their remarkable ability to adapt to the available flora or the given food supply.

The following research findings could explain why their feeding behavior is strongly influenced by the seasons.

Some plants consumed by wild chinchillas have been analyzed for their nutrient content. For instance, Heliotropium stenophyllum has the highest calcium and phosphorus content in the fall months, with 19.79% of dry matter, while Flourensia thurifera has 13.21%. Bacharis linearis also exhibits the highest levels of calcium and phosphorus from fall to spring. The highest protein content was observed in Cordia decandra and Liagunoa glandulosa from spring to fall. Ephedra andina and Cordia decandra show the highest calcium levels in spring and fall. Lobelia polyphylla Hook et Am. and Flourensia thurifera reach their highest phosphorus content in the fall. S. incisaefolia and Lobelia polyphylla Hook et Am. contain 57.4% and 56.37% plant fibers or specific acids, respectively. The highest content of plant fibers is found in Nassella chilensis and Stipa plumosa. A decrease in cellulose and lignin (an organic substance that accumulates in the cell wall and contributes to cell hardening) was observed in most species during the spring.

These fluctuations in specific ingredients may prompt chinchillas to preferentially feed on various plants during different seasons to meet their nutritional needs.

(c) Authors: D. Jünemann and A. Handermann

Overview of the forage plants identified by Cortes et al.

Bushes:

* 1: Winter, 2: Spring, 3: Summer, 4: Autumn

Herbs and Grasses:

* 1: Winter, 2: Spring, 3: Summer, 4: Autumn

Sukkulenten:

* 1: Winter, 2: Spring, 3: Summer, 4: Autumn

Jiménez conducted a study from 1987 to 1988 to identify forage plants in the Chinchilla National Reserve. The diet varied significantly within seasons and locations, with between 6 and 12 different forage plant species identified.

In a preference test, Jiménez also offered 31 plants to the chinchillas. Eight shrubs that had been used as forage in other studies (Serra (1979) and Cortés et al. (2002)) were rejected by the animals, while 56.5% of the other 23 plant species were consumed.

Chinchillas showed a preference for Pasithaea coerulea and Nassella chilensis as their preferred food.

* 1: Winter, 2: Spring, 3: Summer, 4: Autumn

* 1: Winter, 2: Spring, 3: Summer, 4: Autmn

Many thanks to www.chileflora.com for providing to the pictures.

• Llagunoa glandulosa - shrub with big round fruits

• Nassella chilensis - sweet gras
• Stipa plumosa Trin. - sweet gras:

• Astephanus geminiflorus - succulent, cactus plants
• Puya berteroniana: Kraut, Blüte - succulent, bromeliads
• Glandularia sulphurea
• Pleurophora pusilla - succulent
• Apium laciniatum - a type of celery
• Cistanthe (Calandrinia) grandiflora - succulent
• Moscharia pinnatifida - herb
• Colliguaja odorifera - succulent with big fruits
• Adiantum chilense:

• Oxalis carnosa:

• Rhodophiala phycelloides:

• Adesmia microphylla
• Lycium chilense
• Echinopsis chiloensis
• Proustia baccharoides
• Oxalis gigantea Barn.: blooming, herb
• Porlieria chilensis
• Ephedra andina
• Proustia cuneifolia
• Opuntia ovata
• Notholaena mollis/Cheilanthes mollis
• Leucocoryne purpurea:

• Lobelia polyphylla
• Heliotropium stenophyllum:

• Cordia decandra
• Erodium cicutarium
• Ephedra chilensis:

• Bridgesia incisaefolia:

• Flourensia thurifera
• Dioscorea humifusa Poepp.
• Berberis glomerata

In the area of the 'Chinchilla National Reserve,' not only the documented plants from the studies grow but also several others. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that wild chinchillas may feed on some of the plants listed below, simply because they were not clearly identified in the feces in this study.

Because chinchillas are dietary generalists, we can assume that a portion of these plants is also consumed by the animals:

• Proustia cinerea
• Caesalpinea angulicaulis
• Tropaeclum violaeflorum
• Viola asterias
• Tropaeolum azureum
• Plantago tumida
• Solanum tomatillo
• Tropaeolum tricolor
• Pasithea coerulea
• Hordeum murinum
• Chuquiraga acicularis
• Sisyrinchium junceum
• Guitierrezia paniculata
• Cassia coquimbensis
• Cestrum parqui
• Krameria cistoidea
• Galium chilense
• Oenothera dentata

(c) Authors: D. Jünemann und A. Handermann

References:

• Cortés, A et al (2002): Seasonal food habits of the endangered long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera): the effect of precipitation. Mammalian Biology 67: 167-175.
• Jiménez, J. (1990): Bases biológicas para la conservación y el manejo de la chinchilla chilena silvestre. Proyecto conservación de la chinchilla chilena (Chinchilla lanigera). CONAF-WWF 1297. Final Report, März 1987-Februar 1990. CONAF IV Región, Chile.
• Mohlis, C. (1983): Información preliminar sobre la conservatión y manejo de la chinchilla silvestre en Chile. Boletín Técnico No. 3. Corporación Nacional Forestal, Santiago. 41 pp. - siehe unter wildchinchillas.org
• Nazarit, C. (1912): El agotamiento de la chinchilla y de la algarrobilla. Boletín de bosques, pesca, y caza 1: 403-406.
• Serra, M.T. (1979): Composición botánica y variación estacional de la alimentación de Chinchilla linigera en condiciones naturales. Ciencias Forestales 1(4): 11-18. - Abstract
• http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/E_Las_Chinchillas.htm
• http://www.degupedia.de/wiki/index.php?title=Nahrung_der_Wildchinchillas