During the day, the southern viscacha emerges from the clefts and crevices it colonises, to forage for food, and bask on rocky perches in the sun (1) (3) (4). It runs and leaps amongst the rocks with incredible agility, and eats a wide variety of plants including grasses, mosses, and lichens (3) (4). Like all mountain viscachas, the southern viscacha is a gregarious species that forms small to very large colonies, comprising one or more family groups (4) (5). The timing of the breeding season is not documented for this species, but the gestation period has been estimated at 120 to 140 days, with just a single young born at a time. The young is born fully haired with its eyes open, and is normally weaned after eight weeks, and reaches sexual maturity at around a year (3).

The southern viscacha is one of three South American rodent species commonly referred to as mountain viscachas (3) (4). In common with its two congeners, the southern viscacha looks remarkably like a long-tailed rabbit (3). Soft dense fur covers its body, from the tips of its elongate ears to the end of its long, curled tail (2) (3). The forelimbs are relatively short, while the contrastingly long and muscular hind-limbs enable it run and jump with ease (3) (4). The colour of its fur varies seasonally and with age, but generally the upperparts are grey to brown, with tints of cream and black, while the under-parts are pale yellow or tan (2).

This species occurs in southern Peru, southern and western Bolivia, northern Chilie and western Argentina (Woods and Kilpatrick 2005). It occurs between 2,500 m asl to 5,100 m asl. The distribution limit of this species in western Bolivia needs to be revised. This species is not present in southern Peru (H. Zeballos pers. comm.).

The mountain viscacha is found in the extreme southern portion of Peru, Western and Central Bolivia, Northern and Central Chile, and in Western Argentina.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

The southern viscacha has a patchy distribution comprising parts of western Bolivia, northern Chile, western Argentina and possibly extreme southern Peru (1) (3).

Like all members of this family, viscachas have thick, soft pelage, except on their tails where it is coarse. They have pale yellow or grey upper parts, and a black tail tip. Overall, viscachas look like rabbits. They have long, fur covered ears, edged with a fringe of white fur. All feet have four digits. The enamal of the incisors is not colored.

Range mass: 3.000 (high) kg.

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Viscachas inhabit rugged, rocky mountanous country with sparse vegetation.

Terrestrial Biomes: mountains

Restricted to sparsely vegetated, rocky habitats, from 2,500 metres to 5,100 metres above sea level (1) (3).

Mountain viscachas are reputed to eat just about any plant they encounter. Their diet is principally composed of grasses, mosses and lichens.

Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 19.5 years.

Maximum longevity: 19.5 years (captivity)

Mating occurs from October through December. After a gestation of 120-140 days, a female gives birth to a single, precocious young. The young are born fully furred, with their eyes open, and are able to eat solid food on their first day of life. Nursing continues for eight weeks. Females are remarkable for the large number of ova they ovulate (around 300) during each estrus period.

Range number of offspring: 1.000 to 2.000.

Range gestation period: 120 to 135 days.

Range weaning age: 56 (high) days.

Average birth mass: 260 g.

Average number of offspring: 1.5.

Parental Investment: precocial

Populations are declining due to hunting by local peoples.

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Although the southern viscacha is locally hunted for its meat and fur, it is still a very common species, and is not thought to be declining at a rate to warrant significant concern (1).

Conservation Actions

There are currently no known conservation measures in place for the southern viscacha, but it does occur in several protected areas. Although hunting is not currently considered a major threat to this species, it needs to be monitored in case it starts to have a severe impact on the population (1).

Mountain viscachas are hunted for both meat and fur.

Positive Impacts: food ; body parts are source of valuable material