Dolichotis patagonum

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Theria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Ordo: Rodentia
Suborder: Hystricomorpha
Infraorder: Hystricognathi
Infraordo: Caviomorpha
Familia: Caviidae
Subfamilia: Dolichotinae
Genus: Dolichotis
Species: Dolichotis patagonum

Name

Dolichotis patagonum (Zimmermann, 1780)

References

* Dolichotis patagonum on Mammal Species of the World.
* Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2 Volume Set edited by Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder

Vernacular names
Internationalization
English: Patagonian mara
Polski: Mara patagońska
Português: Mara-patagônico

The Patagonian Mara, Dolichotis patagonum, is a relatively large rodent in the mara genus (Dolichotis). It is also known as the "Patagonian cavy" or "Patagonian hare".

Habitat

The Patagonian Mara lives in Central and Southern Argentina. Maras inhabit arid grasslands and scrub desert. Maras like to live in burrows and will occasionally inhabit burrows that were made by other animals. See Current Threats below for information on habital loss.

Food

The Patagonian Mara eats grasses and other vegetation.

Social structure

Mara social structure is defined mostly by the fact that they are monogamous, mating for life. Beavers, also rodents, mate for life. Mara couples inhabit a territory of approximately 40 hectares. The male always follows the female—on guard for rival males and predators. Very little territoriality is evident, though males appear to have a dominance hierarchy.

Maras spend most of their time with their mate, traveling as a pair. However, they will occasionally move in large groups of 70 to lakes where food is plentiful.

Patagonian Maras are active during the day, a character which is called diurnal. The Cavies/Maras are the closest relative to the guinea pig.

Reproduction
A Patagonian Mara family in Southwick's Zoo. Note pup nursing on mother.

Maras are monogamous and mate for life.

Patagonian Mara young, called pups, are kept in a communal burrow called a creche. As many as 15 pairs of Maras may deposit their young in one creche. Mara pups are well developed and can start grazing within 24 hours of birth. However, they remain in the creche for up to four months where mothers return several times a day to nurse their young.

Maras usually produce two young per litter and produce three to four litters per year.

Life expectancy

In captivity, Maras normally live 8-10 years and have been known to live for up to 14 years.

Scientific classification and relatives

The Patagonian Mara is from the family Caviidae, which includes cavies, such as their larger relative the capybara, and guinea pigs. Patagonian Maras are closely related to the other member of the Dolichotis Genus, the Chacoan Mara. Patagonian Maras are the fourth largest type of rodent in the world after the capybara, beaver, and certain porcupines. Though the Mara may look like a rabbit, the rabbit is not actually a rodent and therefore not as closely related to the Mara as one might expect.

Maras in captivity

Patagonian Maras are often kept in zoos, or as pets. Maras that were raised from birth among humans are very social with humans, though if they are not used to humans they may shift to being active at night in order to avoid interaction. Maras breed well in captivity.

Current threats

The Patagonian Mara population in the wild is decreasing, but the Mara is not listed as threatened or endangered. Their decline is caused by two factors: (1) habitat loss and (2) sharing of territory and resources with European hares, introduced to South America by humans.

References

1. ^ Ojeda, R. & Pardinas, U. (2008). Dolichotis patagonum. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 5 January 2009.