Uspallata chinchilla rat

Last updated

Uspallata chinchilla rat
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Abrocomidae
Genus: Abrocoma
Species:
A. uspallata
Binomial name
Abrocoma uspallata
Braun & Mares, 2002

The Uspallata chinchilla rat (Abrocoma uspallata) is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae native to Argentina. [2] This species was identified in 2002, by Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma. Only a single specimen has been examined. [3]

Contents

Description

This is a medium-sized species with a head-and-body length of 175 mm (6.9 in) and a tail length of 119 mm (4.7 in). The upper parts are greyish-brown, some of the hairs having black tips and others pale tips. The underparts are grey, the hairs having creamy tips. Both the front and hind feet are clad in white hairs, as is the region surrounding the anus. This rat can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the greyer upper parts and the paler underparts, the larger ears and the larger hind feet. [4] Its karyotype has 2n = 66. [2]

Distribution and habitat

The Uspallata chinchilla rat is known from two localities in the northwest of Mendoza Province of Argentina, in the Sierra de Uspallata range. This is part of the Monte Desert biome and the altitude is between 1,850 and 2,150 m (6,070 and 7,050 ft), a lower altitude than other members of the genus. The typical habitat of this rat is rocky outcrops and rock crevices on steep slopes, with creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata ), saltbush ( Atriplex lampa ), bunch grasses ( Stipa spp.) and cacti. [4]

Ecology

This chinchilla rat creates shallow burrows among the rocks and coarse herbage. It is diurnal and feeds on shoots and leaves, especially the leaves of the creosote bush; since this bush contains toxic chemicals, it is likely that the rat has lived in close association with it for a very long time, enabling it to acquire immunity to the toxins. [4] It also feeds heavily on Lycium and Schinus . [4]

Related Research Articles

The white-tailed rat also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae. This species is sometimes placed in the subfamily Cricetinae due to similarities in appearance between the white-tailed rat and hamsters, but molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed that the two groups are not closely related. The subfamily Mystromyinae is sometimes placed within the family Muridae along with all other subfamilies of muroids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinchilla rat</span> Family of rodents

Chinchilla rats or chinchillones are members of the family Abrocomidae. This family has few members compared to most rodent families, with only nine known living species. They resemble chinchillas in appearance, with a similar soft fur and silvery-grey color, but have a body structure more like a short-tailed rat. They are social, tunnel-dwelling animals, and live in the Andes Mountains of South America. They are probably herbivorous, although this is not clear.

<i>Abrocoma</i> Genus of rodents

Abrocoma is a genus of abrocomid rodents found in the Andes of South America, from southern Peru to central Chile. The genus contains eight species, most of which are found in isolated mountain ranges in northwestern Argentina. The oldest fossil record for the Caviomorpha appears at the late Eocene-Early Oligocene transition.

The Andean rat, or white-tailed akodont, is the only species in the genus Lenoxus. It is a rodent in the tribe Akodontini found on the eastern slopes of the Andes of eastern Peru and western Bolivia. Examination of its genome shows that this species is not closely related to Oxymycterus as had previously been thought, but is quite distinct, having diverged from the other Akodontini soon after the basal radiation of the entire group.

The Asháninka arboreal chinchilla rat is a large species of chinchilla rats from the Andes of far northern Cusco in Peru. It was first scientifically described in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous rat-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

The rufous rat-kangaroo or rufous bettong is a small, jumping, rat-like mammal native to eastern Australia. It is the only species in the genus Aepyprymnus. The largest member of the rat-kangaroo family (Potoroidae), it is about the size of a rabbit. The rufous rat-kangaroo is active at night when it digs for plant roots and fungi, and like other marsupials it carries its young in a pouch. Though its range is reduced, the population is healthy and stable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipur bush rat</span> Species of rodent

The Manipur bush rat, also known as Hume's rat or Hume's hadromys, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in northeastern India, and is listed as endangered.

Holochilus chacarius, also known as the Chacoan marsh rat or Chaco marsh rat, is a semiaquatic rodent species in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina and Paraguay within the Gran Chaco.

The Mount Oku rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. The genus Lamottemys is monotypic, and this is the only species. It is found only in Cameroon where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat destruction.

The Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat or golden-footed brush-furred rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Ethiopia where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Oligoryzomys destructor, also known as Tschudi's colilargo or the destructive pygmy rice rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Oligoryzomys of family Cricetidae. It is found along the eastern Andes from southern Colombia, through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia into northern Argentina. Its karyotype has 2n = 60 and FNa = 76.

Oligoryzomys magellanicus, also known as the Patagonian colilargo and the Magellanic pygmy rice rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Oligoryzomys of the family Cricetidae. It is found in the southernmost parts of Argentina and Chile, including Tierra del Fuego and other outlying islands. Its karyotype has 2n = 54 and FNa = 66.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennett's chinchilla rat</span> Species of rodent

Bennett's chinchilla rat is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. It is found only in Chile where its habitat is Mediterranean-type scrub on the western side of the Andes. The IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

The Bolivian chinchilla rat is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. It is found only in Manuel María Caballero Province, Bolivia. Its natural habitat is the rocky areas of cloud forests in Bolivia's interior.

The ashy chinchilla rat is a species of chinchilla rats in the family Abrocomidae found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

Budin's chinchilla rat is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. Found only in Argentina, the categorization of this species was based on analysis of four specimens which were caught among the rocks in the clefts of which it lived. It is specifically known from Otro Cerro, Catamarca Province and known to occur in rocky areas over 3,000 meters above sea level; research shows it may be confined to Sierra de Ambato in Catamarca Province and La Rioja Province. In 2002, Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma examined this specimen and confirmed it to be a separate species. Not enough is known about this species for the IUCN to assess its conservation status.

The Famatina chinchilla rat is a species of chinchilla rats in the family Abrocomidae found only in Argentina.

The Sierra del Tontal chinchilla rat is a species of chinchilla rat. Found only in Argentina, this species was once thought to be part of Abrocoma cinerea. In 2002, Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma confirmed it to be a separate species.

The Punta de Vacas chinchilla rat, also known as the Mendozan chinchilla rat, is a species of chinchilla rats in the family Abrocomidae. Found only in Argentina, this species was once thought to be part of Abrocoma cinerea. In 2002, Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma confirmed it to be a separate species.

The Chalchalero viscacha rat or Chalchalero vizcacha rat is a species of caviomorph rodent in the family Octodontidae. It was formerly considered to be monotypic within the genus Salinoctomys, but has been shown by genetic analysis to nest within Tympanoctomys, and in particular, within the variation of T. barrerae. The species is endemic to a small area of northwestern Argentina, where it lives in shrublands bordering the salt flats of the Salinas Grandes. Its diet consists of halophyte plants. It is named after an Argentine musical group, Los Chalchaleros, whose songs were popular with its discoverers.

References

  1. Roach, N. (2016). "Abrocoma uspallata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136302A22182871. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136302A22182871.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 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. 1575. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  3. Braun, Janet K.; Mares, Michael A. (February 2002). "Systematics of the Abrocoma cinerea species complex (Rodentia: Abrocomidae), with a description of a new species of Abrocoma". Journal of Mammalogy. 83 (1): 1–19. doi: 10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0001:SOTACS>2.0.CO;2 . ISSN   1545-1542.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Patton, James L.; Emmons, Louise H. (2015-03-09). "Family Abrocomidae". In Patton, James L.; Pardiñas, Ulyses F. J.; D’Elía, Guillermo (eds.). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. pp. 814–815. ISBN   978-0-226-16957-6. OCLC   921432000.