How many distinct extant genera divide the family Chinchillidae?
Answer
Two
The family Chinchillidae, which resides within the infraorder Hystricomorpha, is organized into precisely two distinct extant genera. This internal division separates the group commonly recognized as the 'true' chinchillas, classified under the genus *Chinchilla*, from their close relatives, the mountain or tufted-eared chinchillas, which belong to the genus *Lagidium*. This biological partitioning is significant because it highlights that despite their shared family status, these groups have followed divergent evolutionary paths, leading to morphological differences such as variations in tail length, ear size, and skull structure between the representatives of the two genera.
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