Abrocoma is a genus of abrocomid rodents found in the Andes of South America, from southern Peru to central Chile. The genus contains eight species, most of which are found in isolated mountain ranges in northwestern Argentina. The oldest fossil record for the Caviomorpha appears at the late Eocene-Early Oligocene transition (37.5–31.5 mybp).[1] The Abrocoma has an interesting body structure for example within its own head it has a sac that contains a liquid that is not named by Janet K. Braun and Michael A. Mares(894). They also have feet that are padded which helped to completely say with certainty that it is a rock dweller but also a rock climber.(896).
Abrocoma | |
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Abrocoma bennettii | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Abrocomidae |
Genus: | Abrocoma Waterhouse, 1837 |
Type species | |
Abrocoma bennettii Waterhouse, 1837
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Species | |
See text |
Species
edit- Genus Abrocoma
- A. bennettii - Bennett's chinchilla rat
- A. boliviensis - Bolivian chinchilla rat
- A. budini - Budin's chinchilla rat
- A. cinerea - ashy chinchilla rat
- A. famatina - Famatina chinchilla rat
- A. shistacea - Sierra del Tontal chinchilla rat
- A. uspallata - Uspallata chinchilla rat
- A. vaccarum - Punta de Vacas chinchilla rat or Mendozan chinchilla rat
Additionally, the species Cuscomys oblativus was formerly classified as A. oblativus, but has been reassigned.[2]
References
edit- ^ Gallardo, Milton; Kirsch, John (March 2001). "Molecular relationships among Octodontidae". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 8 (1): 73–89. doi:10.1023/A:1011345000786. S2CID 24884119.
- ^ http://darrennaish.blogspot.com/2006/03/giant-furry-pets-of-incas.html Giant Furry Pets Of The Incas
Further reading
edit- Braun, J. K. and M. A. Mares. 2002. Systematics of the Abrocoma cinerea species complex (Rodentia: Abrocomidae), with a description of a new species of Abrocoma. Journal of Mammalogy, 83:1-19.
- Braun, J. K., & Mares, M. A. (1996). Unusual morphological and behavioral traits in Abrocoma (rodentia: Abrocomidae) from Argentina. Journal of Mammalogy, 77(3), 891. https://doi.org/10.2307/1382695