Chinchilla lanigera; Print; The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera); also called the Chilean; coastal; common; or lesser chinchilla; is one of two species of rodent from the genus Chinchilla: the other species being C. chinchilla. Both breeds are endangered in the wild after historically being hunted for their soft hair coats. Domestic breeds of chinchilla are believed to descend from specimens of C. lanigera. Domestic chinchillas come in three types: la plata; costina; and raton.; 1700-1880