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There is much confusion relating to the classification of the different species (or sub-species) of chinchillas. Different terminologies and the blurring of time have resulted in rather a complicated tangle of dual-naming and cultural differences.
I am not attempting to either clarify or put any records straight, indeed, my research may be equally flawed, but I shall attempt merely to catalogue the following, in the hope that someone may find it of interest.
Latin Scientific Name: Chinchilla Chinchilla brevicaudata (1848)
Classification History: Eriomys chinchilla (1829) - Lagostomus laniger (1831) - Chinchilla brevicaudata (major) (1879)
Common Names: True, Greater short-tailed chinchilla, Precious, Royal, La Chinchilla Real, Peruvian Chinchilla, La Chinchilla Indiana.
Distinguishing Features: This species has the shortest tail and ears relative to body-length.
Latin Scientific Name: Chinchilla Chinchilla boliviana (1911)
Classification History: Chinchilla boliviana (1911) - Chinchilla intermedia (1939)
Common Names: La Chinchilla del Altiplano, Boliviano, Brevicaudata (called this by early ranchers), La Chinchilla Cordillerana, Mountain, Bolivian, Lesser Short-Tailed Chinchilla, La Plata, Argentine, Cordilleras Chinchilla.
Latin Scientific Name: Chinchilla lanigera (1782)
Classification History: Mus laniger (1782) - Cricetus chinchilla (1814) - Chinchilla velligera (1934) - Lommus lanigera (1803) - Cricetus lanigera (1822)
Common Names: Velligera, La Chinchilla Bastarda, Hybrid, Lesser, Coastal, La Chinchilla Costina, La Chinchilla Chilena, Long-Tailed Chinchilla.
Apparently a chap called De Chant found several different "types" of Chinchilla lanigera.
La Plata Type
Denser bone structure, heavy-set, roundish and compact. Short, wide head. Larger animal.
Costina Type
Lighter bone structure (in comparison). Longer hind legs. Lighter, thinner build, with a narrower more pointed head.
Raton Type
Similar to the La Plata type, but about a third smaller.
The above information on "types" is relatively academic now, as many decades of selective breeding has "blended" the distinct body shapes into hybrid "types", displaying the characteristics that the breeders wanted. However, you do occasionally see a chinchilla that easily fits in with one of the above descriptions.
Bibliography:
(to be added)
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