Collared tuco-tuco
Collared tuco-tuco | |
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Conservation status | |
![]() Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Ctenomyidae |
Genus: | Ctenomys |
Species: | C. torquatus |
Binomial name | |
Ctenomys torquatus Lichtenstein, 1830 |
The collared tuco-tuco (Ctenomys torquatus) is a tuco-tuco species from South America. It is found in southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina, where it lives underground in a burrow it digs in savannah habitats. It is a relatively common species and the IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Description
The collared tuco-tuco is a short-tailed rodent with a total length of about 250 mm (10 in), including a tail of 75 mm (3 in). It varies considerably in colour across its range and between different members of the same population. The upper parts can be anything from mahogany brown to yellowish-brown, and the flanks and underparts are yellowish white. Most animals have a paler collar of yellowish-white and many have pale patches in the armpit and groin. The tail is dark brown above and below.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The collared tuco-tuco is native to southern Brazil, Uruguay, and northern Argentina, where it is found in the provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes. Its typical habitat is high, dry savannah country with sandy, rock-free soils. It does not inhabit cultivated land.[2]
Ecology
Except during the breeding season, this animal is solitary. It lives in a burrow which is usually less than 50 cm (20 in) below the surface of the ground and may be several metres in length. Side passages are used for storing food. It is a herbivore and usually eats the whole plant on which it is feeding; it is diurnal and rather secretive, emerging only briefly from the entrance to its burrow to forage.[2]
Breeding takes place once a year between June and October. After a gestation period of about 105 days, a litter of two or three young is born underground.[2]
Status
The collared tuco-tuco has a wide range and is presumed to have a large population. In Brazil it is threatened by increasing cultivation of its habitat, the planting of pine and Eucalyptus plantations, and the strip-mining of coal. No other particular threats have been identified and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
References
- ^ a b Lessa, E. & Bidau, C. (2008). "Ctenomys torquatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2009.{{cite iucn}}: old-form url (help)
- ^ a b c d Eisenberg, John F.; Redford, Kent H. (1992). Mammals of the Neotropics, Volume 2: The Southern Cone: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. University of Chicago Press. p. 380. ISBN 978-0-226-70682-5.
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- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Rodentia
- Suborder: Hystricomorpha
- Infraorder: Hystricognathi
- Parvorder: Caviomorpha
(tuco-tucos)
- Anderson's cujuchi (Ctenomys andersoni)
- Argentine tuco-tuco (Ctenomys argentinus)
- Southern tuco-tuco (Ctenomys australis)
- Azara's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys azarae)
- Berg's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys bergi)
- Bidau's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys bidaui)
- Bolivian tuco-tuco (Ctenomys boliviensis)
- Bonetto's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys bonettoi)
- Brazilian tuco-tuco (Ctenomys brasiliensis)
- Budin's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys budini)
- Colburn's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys colburni)
- Puntilla tuco-tuco (Ctenomys coludo)
- Conover's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys conoveri)
- Contreras's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys contrerasi)
- Coyhaique tuco-tuco (Ctenomys coyhaiquensis)
- D'Orbigny's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys dorbignyi)
- Chacoan tuco-tuco (Ctenomys dorsalis)
- Emily's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys emilianus)
- Erika's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys erikacuellarae)
- Famatina tuco-tuco (Ctenomys famosus)
- Flamarion's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys flamarioni)
- Foch's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys fochi)
- Lago Blanco tuco-tuco (Ctenomys fodax)
- Reddish tuco-tuco (Ctenomys frater)
- Tawny tuco-tuco (Ctenomys fulvus)
- Goodfellow's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys goodfellowi)
- Haig's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys haigi)
- Ibicui tuco-tuco (Ctenomys ibicuiensis)
- San Juan tuco-tuco (Ctenomys johannis)
- Jujuy tuco-tuco (Ctenomys juris)
- Catamarca tuco-tuco (Ctenomys knighti)
- Lami tuco-tuco (Ctenomys lami)
- Mottled tuco-tuco (Ctenomys latro)
- Lessa's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys lessai)
- White-toothed tuco-tuco (Ctenomys leucodon)
- Lewis's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys lewisi)
- Magellanic tuco-tuco (Ctenomys magellanicus)
- Maule tuco-tuco (Ctenomys maulinus)
- Mendoza tuco-tuco (Ctenomys mendocinus)
- Tiny tuco-tuco (Ctenomys minutus)
- Natterer's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys nattereri)
- Furtive tuco-tuco (Ctenomys occultus)
- Highland tuco-tuco (Ctenomys opimus)
- Reig's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys osvaldoreigi)
- Pearson's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys pearsoni)
- Goya tuco-tuco (Ctenomys perrensi)
- Peruvian tuco-tuco (Ctenomys peruanus)
- Pilar tuco-tuco (Ctenomys pilarensis)
- San Luis tuco-tuco (Ctenomys pontifex)
- Porteous's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys porteousi)
- Pundt's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys pundti)
- Rio Negro tuco-tuco (Ctenomys rionegrensis)
- Roig's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys roigi)
- Salta tuco-tuco (Ctenomys saltarius)
- Scaglia's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys scagliai)
- Silky tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sericeus)
- Social tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis)
- Steinbach's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys steinbachi)
- Forest tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sylvanus)
- Talas tuco-tuco (Ctenomys talarum)
- Thales's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys thalesi)
- Collared tuco-tuco (Ctenomys torquatus)
- Robust tuco-tuco (Ctenomys tuconax)
- Tucuman tuco-tuco (Ctenomys tucumanus)
- Sierra Tontal tuco-tuco (Ctenomys tulduco)
- Strong tuco-tuco (Ctenomys validus)
- Vipos tuco-tuco (Ctenomys viperinus)
- Yates's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys yatesi)
- Yolanda's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys yolandae)