The bunny rat is a heavily built rat-like rodent, with a total length of 20 to 27 cm (7.9 to 10.6 in), including the 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) tail. Adults weigh an average of about 80 g (2.8 oz). The body is covered in long soft hair, and the tail is also hairy, ending in a distinct tuft. The head is relatively large, with prominent rounded, hairy, ears. The hind legs are unusually long for a rat, with the first and fifth toes reduced in size, giving them an appearance similar to those of a rabbit. The fur is dark brown to buff-grey over the upper parts of the body, becoming paler, sometimes almost white, on the underparts. Without genetic analysis, the bunny rat can only be reliably distinguished from its close relative, the naked-soled conyrat, by the fact that the soles of its feet are hairy.[3]
Bunny rats are widespread in Argentina and eastern Chile south of about 36°S, and are found in a few patchy localities in northern Argentina and possibly parts of Uruguay. Bunny rats have also been reported from the Falkland Islands. Within this region, they are most commonly found in open grasslands such as steppe and prairie, but can also be found in shrublands, and even beech forest, below about 3,000 m (9,800 ft). Four subspecies are currently recognised, although it is possible that the bunny rat represents a species complex, rather than a single species:[1][3]
Bunny rats feed almost entirely on grass, and can consume a mass of vegetation equal to their own body weight in a single night.[5] Although primarily nocturnal, they may also be active during the day, depending on the weather, and spend most of their waking hours feeding. They sleep in tunnels, which are about 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) wide, and have multiple entrances. In many cases, they may co-opt tunnels dug by other rodent species, and may even share them with the original inhabitant.[5]
Bunny rats can reach population densities of 10–15 per hectare (4.0–6.1/acre) in ideal conditions. They are common prey for owls, and are thought to have a maximum lifespan of 15 months.[3] They breed between September and March, but most commonly in the spring, and give birth to litters of up to eight pups. Females reach sexual maturity two months after birth, although this may be longer for males.[3][5]
Referencesedit
^ abcPardinas, U.; Jayat, J.P. & D'Elia, G. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Reithrodon auritus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19399A115150621. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
^Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Reithrodon auritus". 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. 1165. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ abcdPardiñas, U.F.J. & Galliari, C.A. (2001). (PDF). Mammalian Species (664): 1–8. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2001)664<0001:ra>2.0.co;2. S2CID 198968891. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
^Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Reithrodon typicus". 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. 1165–1166. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ abcPearson, O.P. (1988). "Biology and feeding dynamics of a South American Herbivorous rodent, Reithrodon". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 23 (1): 25–39. doi:10.1080/01650528809360741.
January 19, 2024
bunny, bunny, hairy, soled, conyrat, reithrodon, auritus, species, rodent, family, cricetidae, native, southern, south, america, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, mammal. The bunny rat 1 or hairy soled conyrat 2 Reithrodon auritus is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae native to southern South America Bunny ratConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily CricetidaeSubfamily SigmodontinaeGenus ReithrodonSpecies R auritusBinomial nameReithrodon auritus G Fischer 1814 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Biology and behaviour 4 ReferencesDescription editThe bunny rat is a heavily built rat like rodent with a total length of 20 to 27 cm 7 9 to 10 6 in including the 7 to 10 cm 2 8 to 3 9 in tail Adults weigh an average of about 80 g 2 8 oz The body is covered in long soft hair and the tail is also hairy ending in a distinct tuft The head is relatively large with prominent rounded hairy ears The hind legs are unusually long for a rat with the first and fifth toes reduced in size giving them an appearance similar to those of a rabbit The fur is dark brown to buff grey over the upper parts of the body becoming paler sometimes almost white on the underparts Without genetic analysis the bunny rat can only be reliably distinguished from its close relative the naked soled conyrat by the fact that the soles of its feet are hairy 3 Its karyotype has 2n 34 4 Distribution and habitat editBunny rats are widespread in Argentina and eastern Chile south of about 36 S and are found in a few patchy localities in northern Argentina and possibly parts of Uruguay Bunny rats have also been reported from the Falkland Islands Within this region they are most commonly found in open grasslands such as steppe and prairie but can also be found in shrublands and even beech forest below about 3 000 m 9 800 ft Four subspecies are currently recognised although it is possible that the bunny rat represents a species complex rather than a single species 1 3 Reithrodon auritus auritus central Argentina Reithrodon auritus caurinus northern Argentina Reithrodon auritus cuniculoides southern Argentina eastern Chile Reithrodon auritus pachycephalus Tierra del FuegoBiology and behaviour editBunny rats feed almost entirely on grass and can consume a mass of vegetation equal to their own body weight in a single night 5 Although primarily nocturnal they may also be active during the day depending on the weather and spend most of their waking hours feeding They sleep in tunnels which are about 4 to 7 cm 1 6 to 2 8 in wide and have multiple entrances In many cases they may co opt tunnels dug by other rodent species and may even share them with the original inhabitant 5 Bunny rats can reach population densities of 10 15 per hectare 4 0 6 1 acre in ideal conditions They are common prey for owls and are thought to have a maximum lifespan of 15 months 3 They breed between September and March but most commonly in the spring and give birth to litters of up to eight pups Females reach sexual maturity two months after birth although this may be longer for males 3 5 References edit a b c Pardinas U Jayat J P amp D Elia G 2017 errata version of 2016 assessment Reithrodon auritus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T19399A115150621 Retrieved 21 December 2023 Musser G G Carleton M D 2005 Reithrodon auritus 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 1165 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b c d Pardinas U F J amp Galliari C A 2001 Reithrodon auritus PDF Mammalian Species 664 1 8 doi 10 1644 1545 1410 2001 664 lt 0001 ra gt 2 0 co 2 S2CID 198968891 Archived from the original PDF on 2015 04 18 Retrieved 2015 04 18 Musser G G Carleton M D 2005 Reithrodon typicus 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 1165 1166 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b c Pearson O P 1988 Biology and feeding dynamics of a South American Herbivorous rodent Reithrodon Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 23 1 25 39 doi 10 1080 01650528809360741 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bunny rat amp oldid 1191116164, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
