The Chilean rock rat (''Aconaemys fuscus'') is a species of
rodent in the family
Octodontidae.
It is found in the high Andes of
Argentina and
Chile.
Description
The Chilean rock rat is a short-tailed rodent. Rock rats in the genus ''
Aconaemys'' are similar to those in the genus ''
Ctenomys'' but not so specialised for life underground. The ears are rather larger, the claws on the front feet which are used for digging are smaller, and the edging of hairs on the hind feet, used for shifting loose soil, is reduced in size.
The upper parts of the Chilean rock rat are dark brown, with the underparts ranging from reddish brown to white. Sample specimens described in 1966 and 1984, from two different locations, had a head-and-body length ranging from to , with the tail adding another – to the animal's total length.
Its
karyotype
A karyotype is the general appearance of the complete set of metaphase chromosomes in the cells of a species or in an individual organism, mainly including their sizes, numbers, and shapes. Karyotyping is the process by which a karyotype is disce ...
has
2n = 56 and
FN = 108.
[
]
Distribution and habitat
This species is endemic to parts of Argentina and Chile in the high Andes in South America. Its range extends from about 33°S to 41°S. In Argentina, it is restricted to thick forests of bamboo and '' Nothofagus dombeyi'', but in Chile it is found in monkey puzzle (''Araucaria'') and southern beech (''Nothofagus'') forests, and above the tree line, usually among tussocky grass.[ It occurs up to about .]
Ecology
The Chilean rock rat is a semi-fossorial species and constructs a network of shallow tunnels and runways with entrances every metre or so. These burrows resemble those of '' Spalacopus'' and ''Ctenomys'' and are sometimes also used by ''Akodon longipilis
''Abrothrix longipilis'', also known as the long-haired grass mouse or long-haired akodont,Musser and Carleton, 2005, p. 1089 is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in central and southern Argentina and Chile. The south ...
'' and ''Geoxus valdivianus
''Geoxus valdivianus'', also known as the long-clawed mole mouse or Valdivian long-clawed akodont, is a species of rodent in the tribe Abrotrichini of family Cricetidae found in the Valdivian temperate rain forests and Magellanic subpolar forests ...
''. It seems to be a colonial
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:
* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology)
Architecture
* American colonial architecture
* French Colonial
* Spanish Colonial architecture
Automobiles
* Colonial (1920 a ...
species and feeds on roots and seeds, apparently specialising on the roots and seeds of ''Araucaria
''Araucaria'' (; original pronunciation: .ɾawˈka. ɾja is a genus of evergreen Conifer, coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae. There are 20 extant taxon, extant species in New Caledonia (where 14 species are endemism, ende ...
'' in Chile. It is mainly active by night but sometimes also by day. It stores food for use in winter when it is active, moving about under the snow.[
]
Status
''A. fuscus'' has a wide range and seems to be plentiful. No particular threats have been identified and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of " least concern".
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q302133
Aconaemys
Mammals described in 1842
Mammals of Argentina
Mammals of Chile
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot