Social tuco-tuco

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Social tuco-tuco
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Ctenomyidae
Genus: Ctenomys
Species: C. sociabilis
Binomial name
Ctenomys sociabilis
Pearson & Christie, 1985

The social tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis) is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.[2] It is endemic to Argentina. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

Range

The social tuco-tuco is found in the mesic meadows at about 1000 m in elevation. Its range is rather small at about 700 km², bound by the Rio Limay to the east, the Rio Traful to the north, and the Lago Nahuel Huapi to the south.[3]

Behavior

One of the more unique characteristics of this species is its social behavior. This is evidenced by observed adult burrow sharing, female tendency to stay near her birthplace, and alloparental care. With this high degree of sociability, however, there seems to be much less genetic diversity.[3]

References

  1. Bidau, C., E. Lessa, and R. Ojeda. 2013. “Ctenomys sociabilis.” IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 05 October 2013. http://www.iucnredlist.org
  2. Woods, C. A. and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2005. "Infraorder Hystricognathi." In: Wilson, D. E. and D. M. Reeder. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.) Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 1538-1600.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Hadly, E. A., M. Van Tuinen, Y. Chan, and K. Keiman. 2003. Ancient DNA evidence of prolonged population persistence with negligible genetic diversity in an endemic tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis). Journal of Mammalogy. 84 (2): 403-417.
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