Uspallata chinchilla rat

The Uspallata chinchilla rat (Abrocoma uspallata) is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae native to Argentina.[2] This species was identified in 2002, by Braun and Mares from the University of Oklahoma. Only a single specimen has been examined.[3]

Uspallata chinchilla rat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Abrocomidae
Genus: Abrocoma
Species:
A. uspallata
Binomial name
Abrocoma uspallata
Braun & Mares, 2002

Description

This is a medium-sized species with a head-and-body length of 175 mm (6.9 in) and a tail length of 119 mm (4.7 in). The upper parts are greyish-brown, some of the hairs having black tips and others pale tips. The underparts are grey, the hairs having creamy tips. Both the front and hind feet are clad in white hairs, as is the region surrounding the anus. This rat can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the greyer upper parts and the paler underparts, the larger ears and the larger hind feet.[4] Its karyotype has 2n = 66.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The Uspallata chinchilla rat is known from two localities in the northwest of Mendoza Province of Argentina, in the Sierra de Uspallata range. This is part of the Monte Desert biome and the altitude is between 1,850 and 2,150 m (6,070 and 7,050 ft), a lower altitude than other members of the genus. The typical habitat of this rat is rocky outcrops and rock crevices on steep slopes, with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), saltbush (Atriplex lampa), bunch grasses (Stipa spp.) and cacti.[4]

Ecology

This chinchilla rat creates shallow burrows among the rocks and coarse herbage. It is diurnal and feeds on shoots and leaves, especially the leaves of the creosote bush; since this bush contains toxic chemicals, it is likely that the rat has lived in close association with it for a very long time, enabling it to acquire immunity to the toxins.[4] It also feeds heavily on Lycium and Schinus.[4]

References
  1. Roach, N. (2016). "Abrocoma uspallata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136302A22182871. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136302A22182871.en.
  2. Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1575. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. Braun, Janet K.; Mares, Michael A. (February 2002). "Systematics of the Abrocoma cinerea species complex (Rodentia: Abrocomidae), with a description of a new species of Abrocoma". Journal of Mammalogy. 83 (1): 1–19. doi:10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0001:SOTACS>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1545-1542.
  4. Patton, James L.; Emmons, Louise H. (2015-03-09). "Family Abrocomidae". In Patton, James L.; Pardiñas, Ulyses F. J.; D’Elía, Guillermo (eds.). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. pp. 814–815. ISBN 978-0-226-16957-6. OCLC 921432000.
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