Highland tuco-tuco
Highland tuco-tuco | |
---|---|
![]() | |
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. opimus |
Binomial name | |
Ctenomys opimus Wagner, 1848 | |
Subspecies | |
C. o. luteolus Thomas, 1900 |
The highland tuco-tuco (Ctenomys opimus) is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.[2] It is found in high grassland in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru where it lives in burrows.
Description
Tuco-tucos live in burrows and have a number of adaptations to suit this lifestyle. The tail is short, the eyes are small and the external ears are short, while the claws on the front feet are large and strong. The fur of the highland tuco-tuco is longer and softer than other tuco-tucos. The head is dark-coloured, the upper parts are light brown or yellowish-grey and the flanks and underparts are paler. Fat is accumulated under the skin and males are larger than females. The front surface of the incisors are bright yellowish-orange.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The highland tuco-tuco lives on the eastern side of the Andes range in the southern half of South America. Its range includes southwestern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, southern Peru and northern Chile, where it is present at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 m (8,200 to 16,400 ft) above sea level. It is found in dry puna grassland where it digs its burrows in loose gravelly and sandy soils in both pristine and disturbed habitats.[1]
Ecology
This tuco-tuco lives alone in an extensive burrow it digs. Soil is loosened with the forelimbs and pushed backwards by the hind limbs. There is usually a main passage with short side passages every few metres, one or more chambers for storing food and others for nesting. Most activity is in the morning with the animal expanding the tunnel to reach the roots and stems on which it feeds, and only emerging from the burrow briefly to gather nearby food before retreating again. Litters of up to six young are born during summer.[3]
Status
C. opimus has a wide range and is a common species in some localities. In Peru it has been reported at densities of up to 17 individuals per acre. No particular threats have been identified and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
References
- ^ a b c Dunnum, J.; Vargas, J.; Bernal, N.; Zeballos, N.; Vivar, E. (2016). "Ctenomys opimus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T5818A22194246. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T5818A22194246.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1567. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b Eisenberg, John F.; Redford, Kent H. (1992). Mammals of the Neotropics, Volume 2: The Southern Cone: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. University of Chicago Press. pp. 362, 376–377. ISBN 978-0-226-70682-5.
- v
- t
- e
- 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)