Wolffsohn's viscacha

Wolffsohn's viscacha (Lagidium wolffsohni), locally known as chinchillón anaranjado, is a rare species of rodent in the family Chinchillidae. This species occurs in southwestern Argentina and adjacent Chile.[1][2][3] It occurs up to about 4,000 m (13,000 ft) above sea level. It is found in rocky outcrops in mountainous areas.[1]

Wolffsohn's viscacha
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Chinchillidae
Genus: Lagidium
Species:
L. wolffsohni
Binomial name
Lagidium wolffsohni
(Thomas, 1907)

Etymology

Wolffsohn's viscacha was initially intended to be named after the president of Wolffsohn's company. However, Oldfield Thomas, on behalf of the British Museum, named it Wolffsohni in recognition of Wolffsohn's contributions to the study of the species.[4]

Description

Wolffsohn's viscacha features a relatively large body, measuring approximately 470 mm from head to body, with the tail extending up to 305 mm. The coat is characterized by a wool-like texture, with hair lengths varying between 35 and 50 mm. Notably, the tail hairs can exceed a length of 150 mm. It is easily identifiable by its orange-clay coloration, short black ears, and distinctly bushy tail.[4]

Diet

Wolffsohn's viscacha is a specialist herbivore that primarily consumes grasses when available. Grasses, including Festuca pallescens, as well as genera Pappostipa and Poa, comprise 60.4% of its diet. The fruit of Berberis heterophylla comprises 21% of its diet.[2]

References
  1. Roach, N. (2016). "Lagidium wolffsohni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T11149A78320504. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T11149A78320504.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. Gladys I. Galende & Rocío Vega (2020), "Summer diet selection of a rock specialist: the Wolffsohn´s viscacha (Lagidium wolffsohni) in protected natural area of Pinturas River, Cueva de las Manos, Patagonia, Argentina", Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, doi:10.1080/01650521.2020.1763763
  3. Galetto, Emanuel (2020), Chinchillón Anaranjado: El Centinela Del Cañadón
  4. Oldfield Thomas (1907) On a remarkable mountain Viscacha from southern Patagonia, with diagnoses of other members of the group, Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 19:113, 439-444. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930708562665


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