A tuco-tuco is a neotropical rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.Parada, A., G. D’Elia, C.J. Bidau, and E.P. Lessa. 2011. Species Groups and the Evolutionary Diversification of Tuco-Tucos, genus ''Ctenomys'' (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae). ''Journal of Mammalogy'' 92(3): 671-682. Tuco-tucos belong to the only living

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of the family Ctenomyidae, ''Ctenomys'', but they include approximately 60 different species. The common name, "tuco-tuco" comes from the "tuc-tuc" sound they make while they dig their burrows.Anonymous. 2013. "Southern Tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys australis'')." ARKive. 04 Oct. 2013. http://www.arkive.org/southern-tuco-tuco/ctenomys-australis/ The relationships among the species are debated by taxonomists. It has been described that they are in a state of "taxonomic chaos", but banded karyotypes have been used to help make progress on their taxonomic study.Lessa, E. 1998. The Molecular Phylogenetics of Tuco-Tucos (genus ''Ctenomys'', Rodentia: Octodontidae) Suggests an Early Burst of Speciation. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 9(1): 88-99. Their closest relatives are degus and other octodontids. All species of tuco-tucos are found in

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

from Peru and central Brazil southward. The tuco-tucos of South America have an ecological role equivalent to that of the

pocket gopher Pocket gophers, commonly referred to simply as gophers, are burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae. The roughly 41 speciesSearch results for "Geomyidae" on thASM Mammal Diversity Database are all endemic to North and Central America. They are ...

s of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

. They occupy an ecological niche previously taken by gondwanatheres such as '' Patagonia'' earlier in the

Cenozoic The Cenozoic ( ; ) is Earth's current geological era, representing the last 66million years of Earth's history. It is characterised by the dominance of mammals, birds and flowering plants, a cooling and drying climate, and the current configura ...

Anatomy

Tuco-tucos have heavily built cylindrical bodies with short legs and their pelage ranges in color from black to light grey. Their skin is loosely applied, possibly to slide about the tunnels they create. They have long fore feet for burrowing, and bristled hind feet for grooming. They also have large heads, small ears, and hairy tails. Their bodies range in size from in length, and they can weigh as little as 100 grams (''C. pundti'') to more than 1000 grams (''C. conover'').Luna, F. and C. Antinuchi. 2007. Energy and Distribution in Subterranean Rodents: Sympatry between Two Species of the Genus ''Ctenomys''. ''Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology'' 147(4): 948-954.

Distribution

Members of the genus ''Ctenomys'' are widely distributed, but over 50 of the species are found in the southern half of South America. They can be seen in many areas from the southern portion of Peru and southern Brazil to the Tierra del Fuego at the southernmost tip of South America, through parts of Chile and a majority of Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. Their ranges occur from coastal grasslands to mountain slopes, including the Andean Puna at over 4000 meters, and depend on factors such as soil type, ambient temperature, and primary productivity. The only sympatric distribution of this genus occurs between ''C. australis'' and ''C. talarum'' in a coastal dune region.

Habitat

Tuco-tucos live in excavated burrows and spend a majority (up to 90%) of their lives underground. It is estimated that they represent about 45% of all the underground rodents of the world. Their burrows maintain a fairly constant temperature and humidity level that is independent of the geographic region. In order to excavate the soil, they have many morphological adaptations, including their body shape, reduced eyes, and strong limbs.Steiner-Souza, F., T.R.O. De Freitas, and P. Cordeiro-Estrela. 2010. Inferring Adaptation within Shape Diversity of the Humerus of Subterranean Rodent ''Ctenomys''. ''Biological Journal of the Linnean Society'' 100(2): 353-367. Their olfaction is increased and is used to help orient themselves during digging and establishing a territory. The two techniques they use for digging are scratch-digging and skull-tooth digging. A combination of the two methods are often used. Their claws and forelimbs are used primarily for scratch-digging, and their skull and incisor teeth are used secondarily for skull-tooth digging.

Behavior

Tuco-tucos are diurnal and alternate periods of activity and periods of rest throughout the day.

Food

They primarily search for food by digging passageways. Due to the high energy cost of foraging for food, their diet is rather broad.

Courtship

Very little is known about the courtship of the tuco-tucos, as it takes place underground inside their burrows. It is known that the male takes an aggressive posture and exchanges chemical or acoustic signals with the female.

Diversity

Among their most notable features is that various members of the genus exhibit differing levels of genetic variability and sociality. Most of these species are solitary animals; however, some are semisocial or social, with a tendency for the most social species (e.g. ''C. sociabilis'') to have the least genetic variation. While the processes behind its diversification are unknown, it has been suggested that they are among the most diversely speciated genus of mammals, largely due to chromosomal rearrangements and rapid speciation since their appearance in the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene era. Their chromosomal diversity is so impressive because their diploid numbers range from 10 to 70.

Human impact

The species in this genus are at risk of predation by humans because they are viewed as agricultural pests.

Indigenous people

Prior to the European settlement the tuco-tuco was an important food resource in

Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego (, ; Spanish for "Land of the Fire", rarely also Fireland in English) is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of the main island, Isla G ...

for the

Fuegian Fuegians are the indigenous inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of South America. In English, the term originally referred to the Yaghan people of Tierra del Fuego. In Spanish, the term ''fueguino'' can refer to any person from ...

s in particular.

Species

Anderson's cujuchi ''Ctenomys andersoni'', also called Anderson's cujuchi, is a species of tuco-tuco native to Bolivia. Found only in Cerro Itahuaticua, Department of Santa Cruz, at an elevation of around , the species measures in length and has coarse brown and ...

(''C. andersoni'')Gardner, S.L., J. Salazar-Bravo, and J.A. Cook. 2014
New Species of ''Ctenomys'' Blainville 1826 (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) from the Lowlands and Central Valleys of Bolivia
''Special Publications'' / Museum of Texas Tech University (June 17, 2014), number 62. :

Argentine tuco-tuco The Argentine tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys argentinus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the sou ...

(''C. argentinus'') :

Southern tuco-tuco The southern tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys australis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.Woods, C. A. and Kilpatrick, C. W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi", pp. 1538–1600 in: Wilson, D. E. and D. M. Reeder''Mammal Species of the Wor ...

(''C. australis'') :

Berg's tuco-tuco Berg's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys bergi'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae, named after the Latvian-Argentine biologist Frederico Guillermo Carlos Berg. It is endemic to northwestern Córdoba Province in central Argentina Ar ...

(''C. bergi'') : Bidau's tuco-tuco (''C. bidaui'') :

Bolivian tuco-tuco The Bolivian tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys boliviensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; ...

(''C. boliviensis'') :

Bonetto's tuco-tuco Bonetto's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys bonettoi'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern h ...

(''C. bonettoi'') :

Brazilian tuco-tuco The Brazilian tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys brasiliensis'') is a tuco-tuco species. It is found mainly in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil,Fernandes, F. A., R. Fornel, and T. R. O. Freitas. 2012. ''Ctenomys brasiliensis'' Blainville (Rode ...

(''C. brasiliensis'') :

Budin's tuco-tuco Budin's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys budini'') was formerly considered a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to southeast Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina. Given the extensive human presence in its limited range, it has been ...

(''C. budini'') :

Colburn's tuco-tuco Colburn's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys colburni'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is known only from Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the south ...

(''C. colburni'') :

Puntilla tuco-tuco The Puntilla tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys coludo'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to central Argentina. The common name of the species comes from the municipality of La Puntilla at the type locality. It was first des ...

(''C. coludo'') :

Conover's tuco-tuco Conover's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys conoveri'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Ta ...

(''C. conoveri'') : Contreras' tuco-tuco (''C. contrerasi)'' :

Coyhaique tuco-tuco The Coyhaique tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys coyhaiquensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to southern Chile. The name comes from the Chilean province and municipality A municipality is usually a single administrativ ...

(''C. coyhaiquensis'') : D'Orbigny's tuco-tuco (''C. dorbignyi'') :

Chacoan tuco-tuco The Chacoan tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys dorsalis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It lives in Bolivia and Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã ...

(''C. dorsalis'') : Emily's tuco-tuco (''C. emilianus'') :

Erika’s tuco-tuco Erika's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys erikacuellarae''), is a species of tuco-tuco native to Bolivia. Found only in the Cordillera Oriental mountain ranges in the Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca Departments, at elevations of around , the species measures a ...

(''C. erikacuellarae'') :

Famatina tuco-tuco The Famatina tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys famosus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to northern Argentina. The common name of the species comes from the municipality, department and mountain range A mountain range o ...

(''C. famosus'') : Flamarion's tuco-tuco (''C. flamarioni'') :

Foch's tuco-tuco Foch's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys fochi'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to northwestern Argentina, where it is known from southwestern Catamarca Province. The species is named after World War I general Ferdinand Foch ...

(''C. fochi'') : Lago Blanco tuco-tuco (''C. fodax'') :

Reddish tuco-tuco The reddish tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys frater'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. Five subspecies have been recognized, some formerly designated as separate species. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia at altitudes from 600 to 4,500 ...

(''C. frater'') :

Tawny tuco-tuco The tawny tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys fulvus'') is a species of burrowing rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in the desert regions of northern Chile and adjoining areas of Argentina. Description The tawny tuco-tuco grows to a length of , an ...

(''C. fulvus'') :

Goodfellow's tuco-tuco Goodfellow's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys goodfellowi'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Bolivia, where it is found in the Chiquitano dry forest ecoregion, bordering on the cerrado. Its karyotype has 2n = 46 and FN = ...

(''C. goodfellowi'') :

Haig's tuco-tuco Haig's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys haigi''), known regionally as the Patagonian tuco-tuco, is a hystricognath rodent. Like other tuco-tucos it is subterranean and thus not often observed, although the "tuc-tuc" call of the males can be heard near burro ...

(''C. haigi'') :

San Juan tuco-tuco The San Juan tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys johannis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to west central Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country ...

(''C. johannis'') : Jujuy tuco-tuco (''C. juris'') :

Catamarca tuco-tuco The Catamarca tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys knighti'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southe ...

(''C. knighti'') : Lami tuco-tuco (''C. lami'') : Mottled tuco-tuco (''C. latro'') :

Lessa's tuco-tuco Lessa's Tuco-Tuco (''Ctenomys lessai'') is a species of tuco-tuco native to Bolivia. Only found near Lluthu Pampa, Cochabamba Department Cochabamba ( ay, Quchapampa Jach'a Suyu, es, Departamento de Cochabamba , qu, Quchapampa Suyu), from ...

(''C. lessai'') : White-toothed tuco-tuco (''C. leucodon'') : Lewis's tuco-tuco (''C. lewisi'') :

Magellanic tuco-tuco The Magellanic tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys magellanicus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is also known as the cururo by the ...

(''C. magellanicus'') : Maule tuco-tuco (''C. maulinus'') :

Mendoza tuco-tuco The Mendoza tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys mendocinus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. Taxonomy A 2021 phylogenetic study found that Azara's tuco-tuco (''C. azarae'') and Porteous's tuco-tuco (''C. porteousi''), which were both prev ...

(''C. mendocinus'') : Tiny tuco-tuco (''C. minutus'') :

Natterer's tuco-tuco The Bolivian tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys boliviensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; ...

(''C. nattereri'') :

Furtive tuco-tuco The furtive tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys occultus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the souther ...

(''C. occultus'') :

Highland tuco-tuco The highland tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys opimus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in high grassland in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru where it lives in burrows. Description Tuco-tucos live in burrows and have a numb ...

(''C. opimus'') : Reig's tuco-tuco (''C. osvaldoreigi'') :

Pearson's tuco-tuco Pearson's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys pearsoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Uruguay, where it is found at elevations below 200 m. This tuco-tuco constructs burrows with multiple openings (an average of 13) conta ...

(''C. pearsoni'') : Goya tuco-tuco (''C. perrensi'') :

Peruvian tuco-tuco The Peruvian tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys peruanus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol ...

(''C. peruanus'') :

Pilar tuco-tuco The Pilar tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys pilarensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in Ñeembucú and Misiones Departments in southern Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República de ...

(''C. pilarensis'') :

San Luis tuco-tuco The San Luis tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys pontifex'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southe ...

(''C. pontifex'') :

Pundt's tuco-tuco Pundt's tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys pundti'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to the Pampas of southern Córdoba and San Luis Provinces in central Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, ...

(''C. pundti'') :

Rio Negro tuco-tuco The Rio Negro tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys rionegrensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in a small fragmented range in Entre Ríos Province in northeastern Argentina and in the Río Negro Department of western Uruguay ...

(''C. rionegrensis'') : Roig's tuco-tuco (''C. roigi'') : Salta tuco-tuco (''C. saltarius'') : Scaglia's tuco-tuco (''C. scagliai'') : Silky tuco-tuco (''C. sericeus'') :

Social tuco-tuco The social tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys sociabilis'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.Woods, C. A. and C. W. Kilpatrick. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi", pp. 1538–1600 in: Wilson, D. E. and D. M. Reeder''Mammal Species of the Worl ...

(''C. sociabilis'') : Steinbach's tuco-tuco (''C. steinbachi'') : Forest tuco-tuco (''C. sylvanus'') :

Talas tuco-tuco The Talas tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys talarum'') is a species of tuco-tuco endemic to eastern Argentina. Description The Talas tuco-tuco is a large rodent ranging in size from , more than twice the size of a house mouse. Its tail length varies from ...

(''C. talarum'') : Thales's tuco-tuco (''C. thalesi'') :

Collared tuco-tuco The collared tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys torquatus'') is a tuco-tuco species from South America. It is found in southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina where it lives underground in a burrow it digs in savannah habitats. It is a relatively comm ...

(''C. torquatus'') : Robust tuco-tuco (''C. tuconax'') :

Tucuman tuco-tuco The Tucuman tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys tucumanus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina. References

Tuco-tucos Mammals of Argentina Endemic fauna of Argentina Mammals described in 1900 Taxa named by O ...

(''C. tucumanus'') : Sierra Tontal tuco-tuco (''C. tulduco'') :

Strong tuco-tuco The strong tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys validus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern ...

(''C. validus'') :

Vipos tuco-tuco The Vipos tuco-tuco (''Ctenomys viperinus'') is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is endemic to northern Tucumán Province in northern Argentina. The common name is a reference to the city of Vipos in the area. References

...

(''C. viperinus'') :

Yates' tuco-tuco ''Ctenomys yatesi'', also called Yates' tuco-tuco, is a species of tuco-tuco native to Bolivia. Only found near Roboré, Department of Santa Cruz, at an elevation of around , the species measures about in length and has soft hazel and grey hai ...

(''C. yatesi'') : Yolanda's tuco-tuco (''C. yolandae'') A fossil species '' Ctenomys viarapaensis'' is known from

Holocene The Holocene ( ) is the current geological epoch. It began approximately 11,650 cal years Before Present (), after the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene togethe ...

remains found in central

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuco-Tuco Hystricognath rodents Extant Piacenzian first appearances Taxa named by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville