Chinchilla rats are similar in appearance to both chinchillas and rats, hence the common name. Their fur is long, dense and soft and almost as prized as that of true chinchillas, while their proportionately longer head and ears give them a more rat-like appearance. The Bolivian chinchilla rat is the smallest of the three living Abrocoma species, and is distinguishable by its longer, hairier tail. It lives in burrows and is associated with rocky areas within cloud forest. The main threats appear to be from habitat loss and fragmentation as the forest is cleared for cattle pasture and human colonisation.