Social tuco-tuco
| Social tuco-tuco | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| 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
- ↑ Bidau, C., Lessa, E. & Ojeda, R. (2008). "Ctenomys sociabilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 3.0 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.