Microcavia australis (*)
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentiaa
Subordo: Hystricomorpha
Infraordo: Hystricognathi
Parvordo: Caviomorpha
Familia: Caviidae
Subfamilia: Caviinae
Genus: Microcavia
Species: Microcavia australis
Name
Microcavia australis (I. Geoffroy & d'Orbigny, 1833)
Vernacular names
References
Microcavia australis in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
The southern mountain cavy (Microcavia australis) is a species of South American rodent in the family Caviidae.
Description
Southern mountain cavies are tailless rodents with short, speckled, greyish-yellow fur, fading to pale grey on the underparts. Adults measure around 20 cm (7.9 in) in total length and weigh between 200 and 326 g (7.1 and 11.5 oz). They have large eyes surrounded by a prominent white ring, and small rounded ears. Females have four teats.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Southern mountain cavies are largely restricted to Argentina, but may also be found in some neighbouring regions of Chile and Bolivia. They are found across almost the whole of western and southern Argentina, where they inhabit arid and semiarid lowlands, often close to rivers or in areas dominated by thorn bushes.[1] Three subspecies are currently recognised:[2]
M. australis australis - central western to southern Argentina, from San Juan to Santa Cruz, and parts of south-eastern Chile
M. australis maenas - northwest Argentina, from Jujuy to La Rioja, and extreme southern Bolivia
M. australis salinia - western Argentina, from Catamarca and Santiago del Estero to Córdoba
Biology and behaviour
Southern mountain cavies eat leaves, fruits and other plant material, with mesquite and Capparis being reported as particularly common foods. They can even climb trees to get at the leaves, sometimes reaching as high as 4 m (13 ft) above the ground.[2] In time of hardship, however, they will eat almost any plants, for example gnawing on the bark of creosote bushes.[3]
They live in colonial burrows with anything from 4 to 38 individuals. Such burrows can be extensive, with one being reported to have 26 entrances, and a total length of 42 m (138 ft). They are diurnal, emerging from the burrows at sunrise, and remaining active throughout the day, except in particularly hot weather. Males are often aggressive towards one another, creating a strict dominance hierarchy within the burrow. Nonetheless, in severe weather or when there are few shelter sites, individuals, especially females, may huddle together, and the females have also been seen to nurse young cooperatively.[2]
Natural predators include owls, hawks, grisons, foxes, and skunks, and southern mountain cavies alert one another of danger with low-pitched alarm calls. Other calls include a high-pitched cry of fear and soft, almost inaudible, squeaks used during chases and courtship.[2]
Breeding occurs between August and April, with litters of one to five young being born about 54 days later. The young weigh about 30 g (1.1 oz) at birth, and are able to run almost immediately. They are weaned at around three weeks, and females may be sexually mature at just 40 to 50 days old.[2]
References
Roach, N. (2016). "Microcavia australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13319A22189827. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13319A22189827.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Tognelli, M.F.; Campos, C.M. & Ojeda, R.A. (2001). "Microcavia australis" (PDF). Mammalian Species. 648: 1–4. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2001)648<0001:ma>2.0.co;2. S2CID 198968945.
Borruel, N.; et al. (1998). "Effect of herbivorous rodents (cavies and tuco-tucos) on a shrub community in the Monte Desert, Argentina". Journal of Arid Environments. 39 (1): 33–37. Bibcode:1998JArEn..39...33B. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.514.2629. doi:10.1006/jare.1997.0378.
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