The long-tailed variant of the Chinchilla genus, C. lanigera are herd herbivores that dwell in the Chilean Andes, among several other coastal countries in South America. They are considered endangered after historically being farmed for their fur. The domestic chinchilla known in the US is believed to be descendant from C. lanigera, after the initial batch was introduced in 1923 with permission of the Chilean government. One in search for a chinchilla as a pet can expect to find most commonly the standard grey variety, but domestic chins also come in beige, white mosaic (seen above), black velvet, violet, and many others.