Chinchilla

"Jerry"

 

Scientific name:  Chinchilla

Where am I from originally?  The Andes Mountains of South America

What’s for dinner?  Hay, alfalfa pellets and nuts

Fun fact:  Chinchillas can jump up to 6 feet with one leap!

 

The chinchilla is named after the Chincha people that inhabit the Andes Mountains in South America.  The name chinchilla literally means “little Chincha”.  Chinchillas live in herds in the wild and require extensive exercise, which is Jerry spends so much time in on the exercise wheel in his cage.  They are also extremely vulnerable to hot weather due to their inability to sweat, so Jerry isn’t able to attend outdoor events on extremely hot days.