The golden viscacha rat or golden vizcacha rat (Pipanacoctomys aureus) is the single species of the genus Pipanacoctomys of the rodent familyOctodontidae.[2] It has 92 chromosomes and has been regarded as tetraploid (4x = 2n).[3] This octodontid and its sister-species, the plains viscacha rat (Tympanoctomys barrerae) (2n = 102), may have arisen from the diploidmountain viscacha rat (Octomys mimax),[3] (2x = 2n = 56) as a result of the doubling and subsequent loss of some chromosomes. However, some genetic studies have rejected any polyploidism in mammals as unlikely, and suggest that amplification and dispersion of repetitive sequences best explain the large genome size.[4]
The golden viscacha rat grows to a head-and-body length of about 170 millimetres (7 in) with a tufted tail of about 140 millimetres (6 in). The dorsal fur is golden-blond and the underparts are white.[5]
Distribution and habitat
The species is known from Catamarca Province of northwestern Argentina, where specimens are known only from the Salar de Pipanaco, a salt flat. This habitat consists largely of low, salt-loving shrubs, and the soil consists of sand with high levels of salt. It feeds on the halophytic plants growing there.[6] The genus is named after the locale, with “octo” being a reference to the figure-eight ridge on its cheek tooth.
Status
The golden viscacha rat is only found within a very restricted 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 live between the salt pans and the desert. It is threatened by conversion of its very restricted habitat to agricultural use, for the growing of olives, and its population trend is downwards. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered".[1]
^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. pp. 1572–1573. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ abGallardo, M. H. et al. (2004). Whole-genome duplications in South American desert rodents (Octodontidae) 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 82, 443-451.
^Mares, M. A.; Braun, J. K.; Barquez, R. M.; Díaz, M. M. (2000). (PDF). Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University. 203: 1–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
^Mares, Michael A. (1 November 2003). "Desert dreams: seeking the secret mammals of the salt pans - Naturalist at Large" (PDF). Natural History: 29–34.
January 06, 2023
golden, viscacha, golden, viscacha, golden, vizcacha, pipanacoctomys, aureus, single, species, genus, pipanacoctomys, rodent, family, octodontidae, chromosomes, been, regarded, tetraploid, this, octodontid, sister, species, plains, viscacha, tympanoctomys, bar. The golden viscacha rat or golden vizcacha rat Pipanacoctomys aureus is the single species of the genus Pipanacoctomys of the rodent family Octodontidae 2 It has 92 chromosomes and has been regarded as tetraploid 4x 2n 3 This octodontid and its sister species the plains viscacha rat Tympanoctomys barrerae 2n 102 may have arisen from the diploid mountain viscacha rat Octomys mimax 3 2x 2n 56 as a result of the doubling and subsequent loss of some chromosomes However some genetic studies have rejected any polyploidism in mammals as unlikely and suggest that amplification and dispersion of repetitive sequences best explain the large genome size 4 Golden viscacha ratConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily OctodontidaeGenus PipanacoctomysMares Braun Barquez and Diaz 2000Species P aureusBinomial namePipanacoctomys aureusMares Braun Barquez and Diaz 2000 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Status 4 ReferencesDescription EditThe golden viscacha rat grows to a head and body length of about 170 millimetres 7 in with a tufted tail of about 140 millimetres 6 in The dorsal fur is golden blond and the underparts are white 5 Distribution and habitat EditThe species is known from Catamarca Province of northwestern Argentina where specimens are known only from the Salar de Pipanaco a salt flat This habitat consists largely of low salt loving shrubs and the soil consists of sand with high levels of salt It feeds on the halophytic plants growing there 6 The genus is named after the locale with octo being a reference to the figure eight ridge on its cheek tooth Status EditThe golden viscacha rat is only found within a very restricted 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 live between the salt pans and the desert It is threatened by conversion of its very restricted habitat to agricultural use for the growing of olives and its population trend is downwards The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as critically endangered 1 References Edit a b Roach N 2016 Tympanoctomys aureus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T136557A78324400 Retrieved 30 January 2020 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 pp 1572 1573 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b Gallardo M H et al 2004 Whole genome duplications in South American desert rodents Octodontidae Archived 2012 04 25 at the Wayback Machine Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 82 443 451 Svartman Marta Stone Gary Stanyon Roscoe 2005 Molecular cytogenetics discards polyploidy in mammals Genomics 85 4 425 30 doi 10 1016 j ygeno 2004 12 004 PMID 15780745 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 Occasional Papers Museum of Texas Tech University 203 1 27 Archived from the original PDF on 2012 02 17 Retrieved 2011 03 29 Mares Michael A 1 November 2003 Desert dreams seeking the secret mammals of the salt pans Naturalist at Large PDF Natural History 29 34 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Golden viscacha rat amp oldid 1121716808, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
