Aconaemys fuscus

TAXONOMY

Aconaemys fuscus (Waterhouse, 1842), Valle de las Cuevas, Mendoza Province, Argentina.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head and body length 5.3–7.4 in (135–187 mm); tail 2.2–2.7 in (55–70 mm); males 4.2 oz (120 g), females 4.7–5.3 oz (135–152g). Dark brown dorsally, with bi-colored tail and stout body. Fewer specializations for fossoriality. Hind feet with fringe of hairs.

DISTRIBUTION

Occurs in Andean regions of Chile and Argentina between 33° and 41°S latitude.

HABITAT

Montane scrub habitat as well as forests consisting of Nothofagus and Araucaria.

BEHAVIOR

Nocturnal and colonial. Semi-fossorial producing runways.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Herbivorous feeding on roots and other vegetation. Caches food.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Nothing is known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Abundant where it occurs, not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)