Mountain Viscacha, Southern Mountain Viscacha

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

 

Facts about this animal

The mountain vizcacha is a fairly large rodent with a head-body length ranging from 29.5 to 46.4 cm and an average body-weight of about 1.5 kg.

 

The tail is relatively long, 21.5-37.5 cm, half curled or fully curled when the animal is at rest but carried fully extended whan moving. The ears are elongated similar to those of a rabbit, hence the German venracular name "Hasenmaus" (hare mouse). Sexes look alike. The female has one pair of thoracal teats.

 

The colour of the dense and soft pelt is variable, agouti-grey and brown on the back, with a range of cream to black, and the belly is pale yellow to tan.

 

Mountain vizcachas are agile climbers but poor diggers and that are rarely found in earth burrows but rather use rock crevices for shelter. They are diurnal and colonial, living in groups that range from a few individuals to hundreds. They have a fairly large repertoire of vocalizations used in social interactions.

 

After a gestation period of probably 120-140 days the female gives birth to one single fully developed young, which weighs about 260 g at borth and will be weaned at an age of about 2 months.

 

The mountain vizcachas feed on various kind of plants, including lichens, mosses, grass and succulents. They apparently do not need free water.

 

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 79 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

Find this animal on ZooLex

 

Photo Copyright by
Jean-Philippe Delobelle