Highland Tuco-tuco

About the Highland Tuco-tuco

The highland tuco-tuco (Ctenomys opimus) is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae. It is found in high grassland in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru where it lives in burrows. Tuco-tucos live in burrows and have a number of adaptations to suit this lifestyle. The tail is short, the eyes are small and the external ears are short, while the claws on the front feet are large and strong. The fur of the highland tuco-tuco is longer and softer than other tuco-tucos. The head is dark-coloured, the upper parts are light brown or yellowish-grey and the flanks and underparts are paler. Fat is accumulated under the skin and males are larger than females. The front surfaces of the incisors are bright yellowish-orange.

The highland tuco-tuco lives on the eastern side of the Andes range in the southern half of South America. Its range includes southwestern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, southern Peru and northern Chile, where it is present at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 m (8,200 to 16,400 ft) above sea level. It is found in dry puna grassland where it digs its burrows in loose gravelly and sandy soils in both pristine and disturbed... Wikipedia →