A spitting image of the Easter Bunny, the American chinchilla is the epitome of a classic rabbit breed and a favorite house pet. It’s categorized as a “heavyweight” because it grows to be between nine and 12 pounds. Although stocky, the American chinchilla charms with its large, erect ears and salt-and-pepper coloring.
There are three types of chinchilla rabbits—American, standard, and giant—originally named after the South American long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera), which they closely resemble. Legend has it that the first chinchilla rabbit was bred by accident by a French engineer and rabbit breeder named M.J. Dybowski. Dybowski later became known as Le Bonhomme Chinchilla, once people got a look at the gorgeous silvery-pearl fur of his rabbits.
