Which specific species of *Chinchilla* is the ancestor of domestic pets?
Answer
*Chinchilla lanigera*
The species identified as the progenitor for nearly all chinchillas currently maintained as domestic companion animals is *Chinchilla lanigera*. This species is specifically known by the common name Long-tailed Chinchilla. Its prevalence in captivity contrasts with the other recognized species within the genus, *Chinchilla chinchilla*, which is known as the Short-tailed Chinchilla. Recognizing which species is the ancestral line for captive populations is important for breeding programs and conservation efforts aimed at understanding genetic heritage, even though both species face significant conservation challenges in the wild.
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What fundamental feature defines the mammalian Order Rodentia for chinchillas?Which genus locates the well-known pet trade animal precisely?Which specific species of *Chinchilla* is the ancestor of domestic pets?To which infraorder do the family Chinchillidae rodents belong?What defines membership in the Phylum Chordata for a chinchilla?What is the IUCN conservation status for both *C. lanigera* and *C. chinchilla*?Besides genus *Chinchilla*, what is the other extant genus in family Chinchillidae?To which high-altitude mountain range are chinchillas native?What characteristic defines membership in the Class Mammalia for the chinchilla?How many distinct extant genera divide the family Chinchillidae?