Lagidium
Encyclopedia
Lagidium is a genus of rodent
in the family Chinchillidae
.
It contains the following species:
The southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia) occurs in southern Peru, southern and western Bolivia, northern Chile and western Argentina. They occur between 2,500 m. to 5,100 m. asl. Native countries of L. viscacia consists of the following: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
Little data has been found about Lagidium wolffsohni.
L. viscacia inhabits rocky mountain areas as well as rock outcrops in steppe habitat. They are restricted to sparsely vegetated, rocky habitats from 2,500 meters to 5,100 meters 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.
L. viscacia are also diurnal and are most active near sunrise and sunset. They spend the day on perches, grooming and summing themselves. They are adept at moving over rocky surfaces and do not hibernate.
In southern viscacha (L. viscacia), mating occurs from October through December. After a gestation of 120-140 days, a female gives birth to a single, precocious young. The young are born fully furred, with their eyes open, and are able to eat solid food on their first day of life.
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....
in the family Chinchillidae
Chinchillidae
The family Chinchillidae contains the chinchillas, viscachas, and their fossil relatives. They are restricted to southern and western South America, often in association with the Andes. They are large rodents, weighing from to , with strong hind legs and large ears...
.
It contains the following species:
- Northern ViscachaNorthern ViscachaThe Northern Viscacha is a species of rodent in the family Chinchillidae. It is known from Chile and Peru, at elevations from 300 to 5000 m, and may also be present in Bolivia....
(Lagidium peruanum) - Southern ViscachaSouthern ViscachaThe Southern Viscacha is a species of rodent in the family Chinchillidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru....
(Lagidium viscacia) - Wolffsohn's ViscachaWolffsohn's ViscachaWolffsohn's Viscacha is a species of rodent in the family Chinchillidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile. Its natural habitat is rocky areas....
(Lagidium wolffsohni) - Lagidium ahuacaenseLagidium ahuacaenseLagidium ahuacaense is a rodent in the mountain viscacha genus that occurs in southern Ecuador. First observed in 2005 and formally described in 2009, it occurs more than 500 km north of the nearest previously known population of mountain viscachas in central Peru. It is a medium-sized...
- a new species from EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
described in June 2009.
Taxonomy
The number of species of mountain viscachas is considered to be 3 by most authors: Lagidium 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).Range
The northern viscacha (Lagidium peruanum) occurs in the central and south Peru, and northern Chile. It has been recorded at 300 m. at the coast, close to Lima, up to 5,000 m. above sea level. Native countries to L. peruanum, specifically, consists of Chile and Peru.The southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia) occurs in southern Peru, southern and western Bolivia, northern Chile and western Argentina. They occur between 2,500 m. to 5,100 m. asl. Native countries of L. viscacia consists of the following: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
Little data has been found about Lagidium wolffsohni.
Habitat and Ecology
L. peruanum is associated with very rocky areas, and can be found in a wide variety of habitat types wherever suitable rocky sites exist. They select shelters in rocky crevices, usually with no entrance. It is an herbivorous species and is found near water that offers better vegetation than the drier regions within their habitats.L. viscacia inhabits rocky mountain areas as well as rock outcrops in steppe habitat. They are restricted to sparsely vegetated, rocky habitats from 2,500 meters to 5,100 meters 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.
Characteristics
Members of this species are medium to large-sized rodents which also looks remarkably like a long-tailed rabbit. Soft dense fur covers its body, from the tips of its elongate fur covered ears, edged with a fringe of white fur to the end of its long, curled tail. Their tails are bushy and can range up to about 1/3 of the length of its body. The forelimbs 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 4 (apparent in Chinchillas as well), thus causing it to have weakly developed hind claws. 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 under-parts 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 enamal of the incisors are not colored.Behavior
L. peruanum are diurnal species that are active throughout the year. They leap among rocks and performs a series of whistles and trills associated with warning. Colonial structure are composed of small family units of two to five individuals in a subdivided colony that can be as large as 75 animals.L. viscacia are also diurnal and are most active near sunrise and sunset. They spend the day on perches, grooming and summing themselves. They are adept at moving over rocky surfaces and do not hibernate.
Reproduction
In northern viscacha (L. peruanum), males tend to be promiscuous. The gestation period is 140 days, and the usual litter size is one. It is viviparous and lactation takes about eight weeks. In Peru, mating takes place from October through November. Both female and male sexual maturities are reached after 365 days and weaning has been found to occur after 59 days.In southern viscacha (L. viscacia), mating occurs from October through December. After a gestation of 120-140 days, a female gives birth to a single, precocious young. The young are born fully furred, with their eyes open, and are able to eat solid food on their first day of life.