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Chinchilla Rat
Chinchilla rats or ''chinchillones'' are members of the family Abrocomidae. This family has few members compared to most rodent families, with only nine known living species. They resemble chinchillas in appearance, with a similar soft fur and silvery-grey color, but have a body structure more like a short-tailed rat. They are social, tunnel-dwelling animals, and live in the Andes Mountains of South America. They are probably herbivorous, although this is not clear. They can be described as medium-sized. Stiff hairs project over the three middle digits of the rear feet. Their massive skulls narrow in the facial areas. Some molecular work suggests that, despite their appearance, they may be more closely related to octodontoids such as degus, nutria, and tuco-tucos than they are to chinchillas and viscachas. Etymology The family name is derived from the Ancient Greek word ἁβροκόμης (''habrokomēs'', "with delicate hair"). The word ἁβρός (habros) means "deli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abrocoma Bennettii
Bennett's chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma bennettii'') is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. It is found only in Chile where its habitat is Mediterranean-type scrub on the western side of the Andes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "Least-concern species, least concern". Description Bennett's chinchilla rat is the largest species in the genus, with an average head-and-body length of and a tail about 80% of this. As with other members of the genus, the fur is long, dense and soft, and the ears prominent and rounded. The feet are broad but short, with four toes on the front feet and five on the hind; the small, nail-like claws are hidden by tufts of stiff bristles. The dorsal Fur, pelage is dark brown tinged with grey, slightly paler on the flanks, and the hairs on the underparts have dark grey bases and pale grey tips; this gives them a frosted appearance and distinguishes this species from ot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tuco-tuco
A tuco-tuco is a neotropical rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.Parada, A., G. D’Elia, C.J. Bidau, and E.P. Lessa. 2011. Species Groups and the Evolutionary Diversification of Tuco-Tucos, genus ''Ctenomys'' (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae). ''Journal of Mammalogy'' 92(3): 671-682. Tuco-tucos belong to the only living genus of the family Ctenomyidae, ''Ctenomys'', but they include approximately 60 different species. The common name, "tuco-tuco" comes from the "tuc-tuc" sound they make while they dig their burrows.Anonymous. 2013. "Southern Tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys australis'')." ARKive. 04 Oct. 2013. http://www.arkive.org/southern-tuco-tuco/ctenomys-australis/ The relationships among the species are debated by taxonomists. It has been described that they are in a state of "taxonomic chaos", but banded karyotypes have been used to help make progress on their taxonomic study.Lessa, E. 1998. The Molecular Phylogenetics of Tuco-Tucos (genus ''Ctenomys'', Rodentia: Octodontidae) Suggests an Early ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Machu Picchu Arboreal Chinchilla Rat
The Machu Picchu arboreal chinchilla rat (''Cuscomys oblativus'') is a large species of South American chinchilla rats, known from skeletal remains found by members of the Peruvian Expedition of 1912. The animals were buried alongside people in ancient Inca tombs at Machu Picchu in Peru. It was considered extinct by the IUCN in 2008, but conservation status was changed to data deficient in 2016. Photos of a rodent taken at Machu Picchu in late 2009 likely show this species, a finding apparently confirmed in 2014. In 2020, as part of biodiversity study, a report was released with images that captured the rodent in the surroundings of Machu Picchu sanctuary. Originally assigned to the genus ''Abrocoma'', recent studies showed it to be more closely allied to ''Cuscomys ashaninka ''Cuscomys'' is a genus of rodents found in the Andes of Cusco in southern Peru. These relatively large chinchilla rats are dark grey with a distinct white line running from the crown to the nose. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asháninka Arboreal Chinchilla Rat
The Asháninka arboreal chinchilla rat (''Cuscomys ashaninka'') is a large species of chinchilla rats from the Andes of far northern Cuzco Region, Cusco in Peru. It was first scientifically described in 1999. The first specimen of this species was discovered by Louise Emmons, a researcher of the Smithsonian Institution from Washington, D.C., who found it by chance while climbing in the Vilcabamba, Peru, Vilcabamba Mountains near Machu Picchu. Emmons named the genus after the city of Cusco, and she named the species for the Asháninka people who live in Peru. Description and habitat The animal has grey fur, with a white nose and lips, large claws, and a line of white fur running down its head. It is in length, with a tail of . It weighs . Ashaninka arboreal chinchilla rats live in dwarf forest and are hunted by long-tailed weasels. Classification When described, it was placed in the family Abrocomidae, but was considered different enough from existing species for the creation of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Punta De Vacas Chinchilla Rat
The Punta de Vacas chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma vaccarum''), also known as the Mendozan chinchilla rat, is a species of chinchilla rats in the family Abrocomidae. Found only in Argentina, this species was once thought to be part of ''Abrocoma cinerea The ashy chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma cinerea'') is a species of chinchilla rats in the family Abrocomidae found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Description Their total length is , with the body being and the tail being . They have soft ...''. In 2002, Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma confirmed it to be a separate species. This species prefers to live on rocky cliff faces and is found most frequently in an area 1,880 m above sea level. References Abrocoma Mammals of Argentina Mammals of the Andes Rodents of South America Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas Mammals described in 1921 {{rodent-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Uspallata Chinchilla Rat
The Uspallata chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma uspallata'') is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae native to Argentina. This species was identified in 2002, by Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma. Only a single specimen has been examined. Description This is a medium-sized species with a head-and-body length of and a tail length of . The upper parts are greyish-brown, some of the hairs having black tips and others pale tips. The underparts are grey, the hairs having creamy tips. Both the front and hind feet are clad in white hairs, as is the region surrounding the anus. This rat can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the greyer upper parts and the paler underparts, the larger ears and the larger hind feet. Its karyotype has 2n = 66. Distribution and habitat The Uspallata chinchilla rat is known from two localities in the northwest of Mendoza Province of Argentina, in the Sierra de Uspallata range. This is part of the Monte Desert biome ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sierra Del Tontal Chinchilla Rat
The Sierra del Tontal chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma shistacea'') is a species of chinchilla rat. Found only in Argentina, this species was once thought to be part of ''Abrocoma cinerea''. In 2002, Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma confirmed it to be a separate species. Description The Sierra del Tontal chinchilla rat is a smallish, rat-like animal, with a head-body length of about , a tail about long, and an average adult body weight of . It has drab greyish fur, which is paler on the underside, and has a faint stripe of darker fur running down the middle of the back and along the upper surface of the tail. The upper surfaces of the feet are covered with white fur, and there is also a distinct patch of white fur on the chest, covering a scent gland. The lower surfaces of the feet have thick pads with leathery tubercles, which help the animal gain traction on bare rock. Distribution and habitat The species is known only from the Sierra del Tontal, in San Juan Province ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Famatina Chinchilla Rat
The Famatina chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma famatina'') is a species of chinchilla rats in the family Abrocomidae found only in Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest .... References Abrocoma Mammals of Argentina Mammals described in 1920 Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas {{rodent-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ashy Chinchilla Rat
The ashy chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma cinerea'') is a species of chinchilla rats in the family Abrocomidae found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Description Their total length is , with the body being and the tail being . They have soft, thick, silver fur on the top of their bodies, and white or yellow fur on their abdomens. They have four toes on their front feet, and five toes on their back feet. Distribution and habitat The ashy chinchilla rat is endemic to land at high elevations in southeastern Peru, southwestern Bolivia, northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. Its altitudinal range is from about above sea level. It lives in rocky areas, digging its burrows at the base of bushes, under rocks, among shale or at the base of stone walls. Behavior and diet Ashy chinchilla rats live underground, with a group of up to six individuals occupying one burrow. Several colonial burrows may be grouped close together. Little is known of their breeding habits but the gestation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Budin's Chinchilla Rat
Budin's chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma budini'') is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. Found only in Argentina, the categorization of this species was based on analysis of four specimens which were caught among the rocks in the clefts of which it lived. It is specifically known from Otro Cerro, Catamarca Province and known to occur in rocky areas over 3,000 meters above sea level; research shows it may be confined to Sierra de Ambato in Catamarca Province and La Rioja Province. In 2002, Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma examined this specimen and confirmed it to be a separate species. Not enough is known about this species for the IUCN to assess its conservation status. Taxonomy The species was first described in 1920 by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas, working at the Natural History Museum, London. It is named in honour of Emilio Budin, an Argentine specimen collector who worked with Oldfield Thomas. Ellerman, in 1940, considered Budin's ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bolivian Chinchilla Rat
The Bolivian chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma boliviensis'') is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. It is found only in Manuel María Caballero Province, Bolivia. Its natural habitat is the rocky areas of cloud forests in Bolivia's interior. Habitat and ecology The Bolivian chinchilla rat lives in the cloud forests of Bolivia, and may specialize in the rocky areas within the cloud forest. It is a herbivore, and lives in burrows. Young are born precocial after a relatively long gestation period. Threats Major threats to the Bolivian chinchilla rat include the clearing of its cloud forest habitat for cattle pasture and habitat fragmentation Habitat fragmentation describes the emergence of discontinuities (fragmentation) in an organism's preferred environment (habitat), causing population fragmentation and ecosystem decay. Causes of habitat fragmentation include geological process .... It was historically trapped for its fur. References Abrocoma Mammal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bennett's Chinchilla Rat
Bennett's chinchilla rat (''Abrocoma bennettii'') is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. It is found only in Chile where its habitat is Mediterranean-type scrub on the western side of the Andes. The IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". Description Bennett's chinchilla rat is the largest species in the genus, with an average head-and-body length of and a tail about 80% of this. As with other members of the genus, the fur is long, dense and soft, and the ears prominent and rounded. The feet are broad but short, with four toes on the front feet and five on the hind; the small, nail-like claws are hidden by tufts of stiff bristles. The dorsal pelage is dark brown tinged with grey, slightly paler on the flanks, and the hairs on the underparts have dark grey bases and pale grey tips; this gives them a frosted appearance and distinguishes this species from other members of the genus which have pale underparts. The tail is well-haire ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |