Chinchillas are not hamsters. The scientific name of chinchillas is chinchillas. They are both rodents like hamsters, but they are two different families. Chinchillas belong to the class Mammalia, order Rodentia, suborder Porcupine, family Chinchilla. Hamster is the general name for animals in the subfamily Hamsteridae. But both chinchillas and hamsters can be kept as pets.

The difference between chinchillas and hamsters

1. Body size

The size of chinchillas is much larger than that of hamsters. Generally, the size of adult chinchillas will be It is more than twice the size of a hamster, and the chinchilla's hair is longer and thicker than that of a hamster. The chinchilla's tail is much larger than that of a hamster, so the chinchilla is not a hamster.

2. Lifespan

The lifespan of chinchillas can reach about 15 years, which is the longest among the same type of pets. The life span of hamsters is relatively short. Generally, hamsters can only live 1-2 years, which is much shorter than chinchillas.

3. Food

Chinchillas are vegetarian animals. Generally, chinchillas only eat vegetarian food, such as prescribed grass, feed, various dried fruits, etc., while hamsters eat both meat and vegetables. , the food that can be eaten is a bit more complex, but the difference here is still very big.

4. Personality

Chinchillas have a relatively docile personality and rarely attack people. As long as the owner treats it well, it will give feedback to the owner. Hamsters are different. Hamsters can sometimes be very irritable. Although they are small, they still have a big temper.