Abrocoma
Encyclopedia
Abrocoma is a genus
of abrocomid rodent
s 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.
Additionally, the species Cuscomys oblativus
was formerly classified as Abrocoma oblativus, but has been reassigned.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of abrocomid rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s found in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, from southern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
to central Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. The genus contains eight species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, most of which are found in isolated mountain ranges in northwestern Argentina.
Species
- Genus Abrocoma
- Abrocoma bennettii - Bennett's Chinchilla Rat
- Abrocoma boliviensis - Bolivian Chinchilla Rat
- Abrocoma budini - Budin's Chinchilla Rat
- Abrocoma cinerea - Ashy Chinchilla Rat
- Abrocoma famatina - Famatina Chinchilla Rat
- Abrocoma schistacea - Sierra del Tontal Chinchilla Rat
- Abrocoma uspallata - Uspallata Chinchilla Rat
- Abrocoma vaccarum - Mendozan Chinchilla Rat
Additionally, the species Cuscomys oblativus
Cuscomys oblativus
Cuscomys oblativus known as the Machu Picchu Arboreal Chinchilla Rat, is a large species of South American chinchilla rat, known from remains found in 1912, buried alongside people in ancient Inca tombs at Machu Picchu in Peru...
was formerly classified as Abrocoma oblativus, but has been reassigned.