Chinchilla rats or chinchillones are of the family Abrocomidae. This family has few members compared to most rodent families, with only nine known living species. They resemble in appearance, with a similar soft fur and silvery-grey color, but have a body structure more like a short-tailed rat. They are social, tunnel-dwelling animals, and live in the Andes Mountains of South America. They are probably herbivore, although this is not clear.
They can be described as medium-sized. Stiff hairs project over the three middle digits of the rear feet. Their massive skulls narrow in the facial areas.[Allaby, Michael. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Zoology. pg 1. Oxford University Press. New York. 1992.] Some molecular work
Etymology
The family name is derived from the Ancient Greek word ἁβροκόμης (, "with delicate hair"). The word ἁβρός () means "delicate, graceful" and the word κόμη () means "hair".
Species
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Family Abrocomidae - chinchilla rats
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† Protabrocoma
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Abrocoma
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A. bennettii - Bennett's chinchilla rat
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A. boliviensis - Bolivian chinchilla rat
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A. budini - Budin's chinchilla rat
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A. cinerea - ashy chinchilla rat
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A. famatina - Famatina chinchilla rat
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A. schistacea - Sierra del Tontal chinchilla rat
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A. uspallata - Uspallata chinchilla rat
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A. vaccarum - Punta de Vacas chinchilla rat or Mendozan chinchilla rat
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Cuscomys
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C. ashaninka - Asháninka arboreal chinchilla rat
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C. oblativus - Machu Picchu arboreal chinchilla rat
- Citations
- Bibliography
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Braun, J. K. and M. A. Mares. 2002. Systematics of the Abrocoma cinerea species complex (Rodentia: Abrocomidae), with a description of a new species of Abrocoma. Journal of Mammalogy, 83:1-19.
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Emmons, L. H. 1999. A new genus and species of abrocomid rodent from Peru (Rodentia: Abrocomidae). American Museum Novitas, 3279:1-14.
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