To which infraorder do the family Chinchillidae rodents belong?
Answer
Hystricomorpha
The family Chinchillidae, which contains the true chinchillas, is grouped within the infraorder Hystricomorpha in the biological classification system. This infraorder is notable because it represents a significant divergence within the larger Order Rodentia, grouping animals such as guinea pigs and porcupines alongside the chinchillas. Placing them in Hystricomorpha highlights their specialized evolutionary path compared to other rodent lineages. For instance, they share this infraorder grouping with guinea pigs, though they are distinct from families within other suborders like Aplodontidae, the mountain beaver, which, despite sharing ancestry within Hystricomorpha, evolved distinct adaptations.
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