Lagidium
| Lagidium | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Southern viscacha | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Chinchillidae |
| Genus: |
Lagidium Meyen, 1833 |
Lagidium is a genus of rodent in the family Chinchillidae. It contains these species:
The number of species of mountain viscachas was considered to be three by most authors: L. peruanum (northern or montane viscacha), L. viscacia (southern or mountain viscacha), and L. wolffsohni (Wolffsohn’s viscacha). However, taxonomy usually differs by authors (e.g. L. peruanum is included within L. viscacia according to Anderson 1997).L. ahuacaense is a new species from Ecuador described in June 2009
The northern viscacha occurs in central and southern Peru and northern Chile. The distribution is shown to be the Andes mountain in Peru at elevations ranging between 3,000 and 5,000 m.
The southern viscacha occurs in southern Peru, southern and western Bolivia, northern Chile, and western Argentina. They occur between 2,500 and 5,100 m above sea level.
Little data have been found about L. wolffsohni.
L. peruanum prefers dry, rocky, habitats between the timber line and snow line of the Andes mountains with sparse vegetation and coarse grasses. It is an herbivorous species and is found near water that offers better vegetation than the drier regions within its habitat.
L. viscacia inhabits rocky mountain areas, as well as rock outcrops in steppe habitat. It is restricted to sparsely vegetated from 2,500 to 5,100 m above sea level. This herbivorous species is specialized and restricted to rocky habitats where it colonizes rock crevices and also associate themselves with available habitat that is patchy.
In large, steeper portions of the cliffs were more heavily used than less steep portions. Habitat use both on and away from the cliffs appears to be driven by predator avoidance. They can probably more easily escape terrestrial predators on a steep slope. They rarely venture away from rocks which provide a means for escape from both aerial and terrestrial predators.
Members of this species are medium- to large-sized rodents which also look remarkably like a long-tailed rabbit. Soft, dense fur covers its body, from the tips of its elongated fur-covered ears, edged with a fringe of white fur to the end of its long, curled tail. Its tail is bushy and can range up to about one-third of the length of its body. The fore limbs are relatively short, while the contrastingly long and muscular hind limbs enable it to run and jump with ease. However, the number of digits on the hind feet is reduced to four (apparent in chhinchillas, as well). The color of its fur varies seasonally and with age, but generally the upper parts are grey to brown, with tints of cream and black, while the underparts are pale yellow or tan. However, contrary to the former statement, it has been stated elsewhere that they have pale yellow or grey upper parts, and a black tail tip. They weigh up to 6.6 lbs (3 kg) and have fairly delicate incisors in which the enamel of the incisors is not colored.
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Wikipedia