Chinchilla rats
| Chinchilla rats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abrocoma bennettii |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Abrocomidae | ||||||||||||
| Miller & Gidley , 1918 |
The chinchilla rats (Abrocomidae) are a family from the suborder of the porcupine relatives (Hystricomorpha) within the rodents . The family includes two genera with ten species.
distribution
Chinchilla rats inhabit the Andean region in southwestern South America , their range includes southern Peru , Bolivia , northwestern Argentina and the northern and central regions of Chile .
description
Chinchilla rats are rat-like animals with a pointed snout, large round ears, and large eyes. Their fur is long and soft, it resembles the chinchilla fur and is silver-gray or brownish in color, with the underside being lighter. The legs are short, the front feet have four and the hind feet have five toes with soft, nail-like claws. The tail is shorter than the body and densely hairy. These animals reach a head body length of 15 to 25 centimeters, a tail length of 6 to 18 centimeters and a weight of around 200 to 300 grams.
Way of life
The habitat of chinchilla rats are mountain regions up to 5000 meters above sea level. They live in small groups of around six animals in earthworks or caves. They are nocturnal and can climb very well, and they are often found on trees or bushes for foraging. The diet of these animals consists mainly of seeds, fruits and nuts.
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproduction of these animals. The gestation period is estimated at around 120 days and the litter size at one or two. The highest known age of a chinchilla rat was just under two and a half years.
Chinchilla rats and humans
Because their fur which the chinchillas looks similar, chinchilla rats are sometimes hunted. A commercial trade has not been established, however, as the furs are far less valuable. However, there are reports that their skins are sometimes sold overpriced to gullible tourists as real chinchilla skins . The destruction of the habitat has also made them rare in some places. Overall, however, they are less endangered than other rodent species, only Abrocoma boliviens is listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Systematics
External system
Relationships with other rodent groups are still controversial. According to McKenna and Bell ( Classification of Mammals: Above the Species Level ) they form together with the chinchillas the superfamily of the chinchilla-like (Chinchilloidea); other research results place them in the vicinity of the turtle rats (Octodontidae).
The species
Two genera and ten species are known:
-
Abrocoma
- Abrocoma bennettii lives in the central part of Chile .
- Abrocoma boliviensis isnative tothe central part of Bolivia .
- Abrocoma budini
- Abrocoma cinerea inhabits the Altiplano region in Peru , Bolivia and northwest Argentina .
- Abrocoma famatina
- Abrocoma shistacea
- Abrocoma uspallata
- Abrocoma vaccarum lives in western Argentina, but is often listed as a subspecies of A. cinerea .
-
Cuscomys
- Cuscomys ashaninka was onlydiscoverednear Cusco in 1999. The species has a showy white stripe on its head.
- Cuscomys oblativa was originally only known through subfossil remains from an Inca grave near Machu Picchu examined in 1912and was first photographed alive in 2009.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Malcolm C. McKenna, Susan K. Bell: Classification of Mammals. Revised Edition. Above the species level. Columbia University Press, New York NY 2000, ISBN 0-231-11013-8 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jeremy Hance: In the shadows of Machu Picchu, scientists find 'extinct' cat-sized mammal . September 25, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
Web links
- Abrocoma at Wilson & Reeder's Mammal Species of the World online version
- Illustrations of Abrocoma