ADW: Ctenomys haigi: INFORMATION

By Deborah Ciszek

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Rodentia

Family: Ctenomyidae

Genus: Ctenomys

Species: Ctenomys haigi

Geographic Range

This species of tuco-tuco is found only in southwestern Argentina.

Biogeographic Regions
neotropical (Native )

Habitat

These tuco-tucos live in open, treeless areas in the foothills of the Andes.

Terrestrial Biomes
savanna or grassland

Physical Description

Average mass
0.164 kg
(0.36 lb)

The average weight is 164 g, the head and body length ranges from 155 to 165 mm, and the tail is about 70 mm long. This species is fairly small compared to other tuco-tucos. Its fur is soft and silky, and agouti gray brown in color.

Reproduction

Range number of offspring
2 to 4

The litter size ranges from 2 to 4.

Behavior

This animal lives in burrows and comes above ground only briefly. It does not burrow as extensively as many other species in the genus. These tuco-tucos make a short "tuc-tuc" vocalization that is repeated every second as many as 30 times in a row. They vocalize at night as well as during the day.

Food Habits

The ecology of this species has not been extensively studied, but if it is similar to other tuco-tucos it eats a variety of roots and grasses.

Plant Foods
roots and tubers

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List [Link]
Lower Risk - Least Concern

CITES [Link]
No special status

For More Information

Find Ctenomys haigi information at

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Deborah Ciszek (author), University of Michigan.

References

Redford, K.H. and J.F. Eisenberg. 1992. Mammals of the Neotropics, Vol. 2, pp. 370-371. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

To cite this page: Ciszek, D. 1999. "Ctenomys haigi" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 14, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ctenomys_haigi.html

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-0633095 and DRL-0628151.
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Ctenomys haigiHaig's tuco-tuco