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- plains viscacha
- mountain viscacha
viscacha
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What is a viscacha?
A viscacha is any of four South American rodent species related to chinchillas. Mountain viscachas (genus Lagidium) inhabit the Andes Mountains at high altitudes, with soft fur, long ears, and long, bushy tails. They live in rocky areas, are agile climbers, and form colonies, communicating with birdlike whistles.
The plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) lives on grasslands in Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Resembling a large guinea pig, it has a blunt head and coarse fur with distinctive facial stripes. Plains viscachas are nocturnal, colonial animals that dig complex burrow systems, and are sometimes considered pests to ranchers.
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Where do viscachas live?
Viscachas are South American rodents belonging to the family Chinchillidae. Mountain viscachas (Lagidium) inhabit the Andes Mountains from central Peru to Chile and Argentina, typically at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters (13,000 to 16,000 feet). They favor dry, rocky cliffs and slopes with sparse vegetation.
The plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) resides on the grasslands (Pampas) of Argentina, Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia, at altitudes reaching nearly 3,000 meters. Unlike its mountain cousins, the plains viscacha is nocturnal and dwells in elaborate burrow systems.
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What do viscachas look like?
Viscachas are South American rodents related to chinchillas. Mountain viscachas dwell in the Andes and resemble long-tailed rabbits, with long ears, soft, dense fur, short forelimbs, long hindlimbs and a long, bushy tail. Their upperparts are dark gray to brown, with a dark stripe down the back, and their underparts are white, yellow, or gray. Plains viscachas, found on grasslands, look like large guinea pigs, marked by broad black and white stripes on the face. They have coarse guard hairs, soft underfur, and their upperparts range from dark gray to pale brown, with white underparts.
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What do viscachas eat?
Viscachas are South American rodents related to chinchillas. Mountain viscachas dwell in the Andes Mountains, living among rocky cliffs at high altitudes. They eat grasses, mosses, and lichens. Plains viscachas live on grasslands in Argentina, Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia. They will eat any vegetation, but they prefer seeds and grasses. Plains viscachas are considered pests to ranchers because of this and because their burrows are hazardous to humans and livestock.
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How are viscachas related to chinchillas?
Viscachas are South American rodents in the family Chinchillidae, which also includes chinchillas. Viscachas have short forelimbs, long hindlimbs, and a long, bushy tail.
The mountain viscachas (Lagidium) are more closely related to chinchillas than to the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus). Mountain viscachas dwell in the Andes Mountains at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters. The plains viscacha lives on grasslands in Argentina, Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia at altitudes up to nearly 3,000 metres.
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What is unique about viscachas' social behavior or lifestyle?
Viscachas exhibit unique social behaviors and lifestyles. Mountain viscachas are nonaggressive, gregarious rodents that live in the Andes Mountains at high altitudes. They form large colonies among rocky cliffs, communicating with birdlike whistles to warn of predators. Plains viscachas, found on the Pampas, are nocturnal and colonial, constructing elaborate burrow systems called vizcacheras, which they mark with collections of stones, sticks, and dung. These viscacheras pose hazards to humans and livestock, marking a unique interaction between the rodents and their environment.
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viscacha, any of four species of slender yet fairly large South American rodents similar to chinchillas. They have short forelimbs, long hindlimbs, and a long, bushy tail. The soft fur is long and dense, and the soles of the feet have fleshy pads.
The three species of mountain viscachas (genus Lagidium) live in the Andes Mountains from central Peru southward to Chile and Argentina, usually at altitudes between 4,000 and 5,000 metres (13,000 and 16,000 feet). They have very long ears and resemble long-tailed rabbits. Mountain viscachas weigh up to 3 kg (6.6 pounds) and have a body length of 30 to 45 cm (about 12 to 18 inches). Fur on the upperparts is dark gray to brown, often with a dark stripe down the back; the underparts are white, yellow, or gray. The blackish tail is slightly shorter than the body and is tipped with black or reddish brown. Inhabiting dry, sparsely vegetated rocky cliffs, outcrops, and slopes, these rodents are poor diggers but are agile on the rocks, where they eat grasses, mosses, and lichens. Nonaggressive and gregarious, mountain viscachas sometimes form large colonies and spend most of the day among rocks and ledges. The approach of a predator is heralded with loud, abrupt birdlike whistles. At night the viscachas shelter in deep rock crevices and narrow stony tunnels. Females give birth two or three times a year. One young per litter is born after a gestation of about three months.
The plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) lives on sparse grasslands, or Pampas, in Argentina, Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia at altitudes up to nearly 3,000 metres. It resembles a huge guinea pig, with a large, blunt head, a body length of 47 to 66 cm, and a short tail (15 to 20 cm). Females weigh up to 4.5 kg and males up to 8 kg. Coarse guard hairs mingle with soft underfur. Upperparts vary from dark gray to pale brown; underparts are white. Broad black and white stripes—including a moustache—mark the face. There are four large, strong digits on the front feet but only three on the hindfeet. Unlike mountain viscachas, the plains viscacha is nocturnal. It is colonial and digs elaborate burrow systems called vizcacheras with its forelegs, pushing the soil away with its nose and marking the entrances with piles of anything it can carry, including sticks, stones, bones, dung, and other objects. Although it will eat any vegetation, seeds and grasses are preferred, which makes the viscacha a pest to ranchers, especially because the burrows are hazardous to both humans and livestock. Plains viscachas are fast and, when pursued, alternate their running with sharp turns and long leaps. Gestation takes about four months, and litters contain one to four young, though two is usual.
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Viscachas belong to the family Chinchillidae, a member of the suborder Hystricognatha within the order Rodentia. Mountain viscachas are actually more closely related to chinchillas than they are to the plains viscacha, which is classified in a different subfamily (Lagostominae, rather than Chinchillinae). Extinct ancestors of the plains viscacha are represented by fossils from the Early Miocene Epoch (23.8 million to 20.5 million years ago) in South America; fossil relatives of mountain viscachas and chinchillas have not yet been found.