Maule tuco-tuco

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Maule tuco-tuco
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Ctenomyidae
Genus: Ctenomys
Species:
C. maulinus
Binomial name
Ctenomys maulinus
Philippi, 1872
Subspecies

C. m. brunneus Osgood, 1943
C. m. maulinusPhilippi, 1872

Contents

The Maule tuco-tuco (Ctenomys maulinus) is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. [2] It is found in Argentina and Chile, where it occupies several different types of habitats. It is a common species, and the IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". The common and scientific names refer to a river and region in Chile within its range.

Description

The Maule tuco-tuco is a medium-sized tuco-tuco, there being two subspecies, C. m. maulinus and C. m. brunneus, the former growing to a total length of 275 mm (10.8 in) and the latter 305 mm (12.0 in). C. m. maulinus is a uniform pale brown colour with a similarly coloured tail terminating in a white "pencil" or tuft of hair. By contrast, C. m. brunneus has a more intense brown colour, with the feet, the underside of the tail and the tail-tip pencil being buff-white. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The nominate subspecies C. m. maulinus is found in Talca Province, Chile while C. m. brunneus occurs in Mallecco Province and Cautín Province, Chile, at altitudes between about 1,000 and 2,000 m (3,300 and 6,600 ft). More recently, this tuco-tuco has been discovered in Neuquén Province and Río Negro Province in Argentina, but it is unclear which of the two subspecies was involved in these sightings. [3] This tuco-tuco inhabits different habitat types, including Nothofagus and Araucaria woodland and open areas where the soil consists of volcanic sands. [4] The range of this species may overlap that of the social tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis). [5]

Ecology

Like other tuco-tucos, this species is a burrowing rodent that feeds on vegetable matter such as roots and grasses. Two burrows have been excavated and found to extend for 14 and 49 m (46 and 161 ft). Some food is taken back to the burrow and stored there in special chambers. [4] In a cave in Neuquén Province, Argentina, owl pellets dating back more than 5,000 years have been discovered which contain skin fragments and bones of a large species of tuco-tuco, which is probably the Maule tuco-tuco. [3]

Status

C. maulinus has a wide range in Chile and northern Argentina, where it is found at altitudes between about 900 and 2,000 m (3,000 and 6,600 ft). This tuco-tuco is present in several protected areas and is assumed to have a large total population. No particular threats have been identified and any downward trend in populations is likely to be slow, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuco-tuco</span> Genus of rodents

A tuco-tuco is a neotropical rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haig's tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

Haig's tuco-tuco, known regionally as the Patagonian tuco-tuco, is a hystricognath rodent. Like other tuco-tucos it is subterranean and thus not often observed, although the "tuc-tuc" call of the males can be heard near burrow sites, especially in the early morning. Like most species in the genus Ctenomys, C. haigi are solitary, with one adult per burrow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazilian tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

The Brazilian tuco-tuco is a tuco-tuco species. It is found mainly in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, though Charles Darwin mentions it during his trip through present-day Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

The collared tuco-tuco 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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

The southern tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily's tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

Emily's tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina.

The tawny tuco-tuco is a species of burrowing rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in the desert regions of northern Chile and adjoining areas of Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magellanic tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

The Magellanic tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is also known as the cururo by the Ona culture of Tierra del Fuego.

The Mendoza tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.

The highland tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in high grassland in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru where it lives in burrows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearson's tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

Pearson's tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Uruguay, where it is found at elevations below 200 m. This tuco-tuco constructs burrows with multiple openings containing one to two nests of dried grass; it prefers areas of sandy soil but is somewhat adaptable. It is threatened by loss of habitat to development, agriculture and ranching. Multiple karyotypes have been reported, including 2n = 68–70, FN = 80–88, as well as 2n = 56, FN = 77–79, suggesting the taxon may represent several species. C. dorbignyi appears to be cytogenetically indistinguishable from the 2n = 70 form. The species is named after American zoologist Oliver Payne Pearson.

The social tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talas tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

The Talas tuco-tuco is a species of tuco-tuco endemic to eastern Argentina.

The robust tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is a burrowing rodent and is endemic to the Tucumán Province of Argentina.

The Rio Negro tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in a small fragmented range in Entre Ríos Province in northeastern Argentina and in the Río Negro Department of western Uruguay. It is restricted to sand dunes, and is threatened by the conversion of this habitat to forestry plantations.

Budin's tuco-tuco was formerly considered a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to southeast Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina. Given the extensive human presence in its limited range, it has been suspected to be threatened. The IUCN currently views it as a subspecies of C. frater. It was named after Emilio Budin, an Argentine specimen collector who worked with Oldfield Thomas.

The Puntilla tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to central Argentina. The common name of the species comes from the municipality of La Puntilla at the type locality. It was first described by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1920 after being collected by Emilio Budin, an Argentine specimen collector who worked with Oldfield Thomas.

Roig's tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to a small region near the Paraná River in Corrientes Province, northeastern Argentina, where lives on sand dunes, and near rivers. Development is degrading and shrinking this habitat, threatening the rodent's survival. The species is named after Argentine zoologist Virgilio G. Roig. Its karyotype has 2n = 48 and FN = 80.

The forest tuco-tuco was formerly considered a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Salta and southeast Jujuy Provinces in northwest Argentina. The IUCN currently recognizes it as a subspecies of C. frater.

Yolanda's tuco-tuco is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. The species is endemic to Santa Fe Province, northeast Argentina, where it lives near the Paraná and San Javier rivers. Its karyotype has 2n = 50 and FN = 78. It is named after Argentine biologist Yolanda Davis.

References

  1. 1 2 Bidau, C. (2016). "Ctenomys maulinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T5813A22193961. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T5813A22193961.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ 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. 1566. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  3. 1 2 3 Bidau, C. J. (9 March 2015). Patton, J. L.; Pardiñas, U. F. J.; D'Elía, G. (eds.). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. pp. 848–849. ISBN   978-0-226-16960-6. OCLC   921432000.
  4. 1 2 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, 374. ISBN   978-0-226-70682-5.
  5. ↑ Patton, James L. (2015). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. p. 869. ISBN   978-0-226-16957-6.
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