The Family Chinchillidae includes chinchillas, viscachas, and related rodents, primarily native to the Andes Mountains of South America. Members of this family are medium-sized, herbivorous rodents with dense, soft fur, large hind legs adapted for jumping, and strong claws for digging burrows or navigating rocky terrain. They are generally social animals, living in colonies, and are mostly crepuscular or nocturnal. Chinchillidae species play important ecological roles as seed dispersers and prey for larger predators, and several, like the chinchilla, are highly valued for their fur, leading to conservation concerns in the wild.