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Chalchalero viscacha rat
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Octodontidae
Genus:	Tympanoctomys
Species:	T. loschalchalerosorum
Binomial name
Tympanoctomys loschalchalerosorum Mares, Braun, Barquez & Diaz, 2000
Synonyms
Salinoctomys loschalchalerosorum

The Chalchalero viscacha rat or Chalchalero vizcacha rat (Tympanoctomys loschalchalerosorum) is a species of caviomorph rodent in the family Octodontidae. It was formerly considered to be monotypic within the genus Salinoctomys, but has been shown by genetic analysis to nest within Tympanoctomys, and in particular, within the variation of T. barrerae. The species is endemic to a small area of northwestern Argentina, where it lives in shrublands bordering the salt flats of the Salinas Grandes. Its diet consists of halophyte plants. It is named after an Argentine musical group, Los Chalchaleros, whose songs were popular with its discoverers.

Description

The Chalchalero viscacha rat is a medium-sized species of rat. Its dorsal fur is dark brownish black while its underparts are white. The hairs on its back are about 2 centimetres (0.8 in) long and have a grey base, a brown band and a black tip, and the guard hairs are a uniform darkish brown. This viscacha rat reaches a head-and-body length of 14 to 16 centimetres (5.5 to 6.3 in) with a tail length of 11 to 12 centimetres (4.3 to 4.7 in). The tail is relatively long, clad with hair along its entire length and ends with a black tassel. The soles of the feet have six pads, and there is a fringe of hairs around the feet.

Status

It is only found within an area totalling less than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi) and it actually occupies only about one tenth of that area. It lives among the salt-loving plants that grow between the salt pans and the dense thorn scrub typical of the surrounding area. Its population is decreasing and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered".

References

1. ^ Roach, N. (2016). "Tympanoctomys loschalchalerosorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136714A78324608. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136714A78324608.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. ^ Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1573. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
3. Suárez-Villota, E. Y.; González-Wevar, C. A.; Gallardo, M. H.; Vásquez, R. A.; Poulin, E. (December 2016). "Filling phylogenetic gaps and the biogeographic relationships of the Octodontidae (Mammalia: Hystricognathi)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 105: 96–101. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.08.015. hdl:10533/227937.
4. Mares, Michael A. (1 November 2003). "Desert dreams: seeking the secret mammals of the salt pans - Naturalist at Large" (PDF). Natural History: 29–34.
5. Mares, M. A.; Braun, J. K.; Barquez, R. M.; Diaz, M. M. (2000). "Two new genera and species of halophytic desert mammals from isolated salt flats in Argentina" (PDF). Occ. Pap. Mus. Tex. Tech. Univ. 203 (1). Museum of Texas Tech University: 1–27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2012-01-11.

• IUCN Red List critically endangered species
• Mammals described in 2000
• Mammals of Argentina
• Tympanoctomys