Tympanoctomys barrerae
TAXONOMY
Tympanoctomys barrerae (Lawrence, 1941), La Paz, Mendoza Province, Argentina.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Plains viscacha rat.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Head and body length averages 5 in (128 mm); tail 5.7 in (145 mm); weight 5 oz (143 g). Enlarged tympanic bullae and head. Dorsal pelage pale, white hind feet, and tail darker and possessing longer hairs near the tip.
DISTRIBUTION
Restricted to arid area the Mendoza Province in Argentina.
HABITAT
Occupies arid regions characterized by shrubs and halophytic (salt-rich) vegetation. Plants usually patchily distributed.
BEHAVIOR
Shows physiological and morphological adaptations to arid climates. Constructs complex burrow system and caches food. Nocturnal and solitary.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Herbivore that specializes on diets consisting of leaves and stems from plants with high salt content, specifically Heterostachys ritteriana. Uses lower incisors and bristle brush located on each side of the mouth to remove excess salt prior to ingesting plant material.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Precocial young that eat solid food within days of being born.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN as a result of restricted range and specialized habitat requirements.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
