South American rock rats

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South American rock rats
Aconaemys fuscus

Aconaemys fuscus

Systematics
Order : Rodents (Rodentia)
Subordination : Porcupine relatives (Hystricomorpha)
Partial order : Hystricognathi
without rank: Guinea Pig Relatives (Caviomorpha)
Family : Trug rats (Octodontidae)
Genre : South American rock rats
Scientific name
Aconaemys
Ameghino , 1891

The South American rock rats ( Aconaemys ) are a species of rodent living in South America from the family of the Trug rats (Octodontidae). The genus includes three types. They are not closely related to other rodents known as rock rats .

General

South American rock rats are rat-like animals and, like the closely related Coruro, adapted to a burrowing way of life. The trunk is stocky, the tail short. The fur is colored brown or black, characteristic is the often two-colored tail, in which the upper half is colored differently than the lower. These animals reach a head body length of 13.5 to 19 centimeters, the tail is 5 to 8 centimeters long. The weight varies between 80 and 150 grams, depending on the species.

These rodents are native to the central regions of western Argentina and Chile , where they are found both in coastal regions and in mountainous regions over 2000 meters. They inhabit both grasslands and forests.

Some of them are underground animals. They build complex systems of corridors that are only slightly below the earth's surface. The burrows have numerous exits, which are often connected to feeding grounds by means of trails. Like many turtle rats, the animals are likely to communicate by high-pitched squeaking noises and other noises. They are pure herbivores.

Systematics

The genus Aconaemys was established in 1891 by the Brazilian zoologist Florentino Ameghino . It consists of three types:

  • The South American or Chilean rock rat ( Aconaemys fuscus ) is common in the Andean region of western Argentina and Chile between the 33rd and 41st parallel south. The species is usually completely brown in color.
  • The porter rock rat ( Aconaemys porteri ) used to be and is sometimes still considered a subspecies of A. fuscus , but differs from it, among other things, by its woolier fur and a different number of chromosomes . This species lives in the Chilean region of Los Lagos and the neighboring Argentine province of Neuquén .
  • The Sage rock rat ( Aconaemys sagei ) is significantly smaller than the other two species, weighing a maximum of 110 grams. This species is only known from small areas in the Argentine province of Neuquén, but probably also inhabits neighboring regions of Chile.

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 .
  • Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .

Web links