Chalchalero viscacha rat | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Octodontidae |
Genus: | Tympanoctomys |
Species: | T. loschalchalerosorum
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Binomial name | |
Tympanoctomys loschalchalerosorum Mares, Braun, Barquez & Diaz, 2000
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Synonyms | |
Salinoctomys loschalchalerosorum |
The Chalchalero viscacha rat or Chalchalero vizcacha rat (Tympanoctomys loschalchalerosorum) is a species of caviomorph rodent in the family Octodontidae.[2] It was formerly considered to be monotypic within the genus Salinoctomys,[2] but has been shown by genetic analysis to nest within Tympanoctomys, and in particular, within the variation of T. barrerae.[1][3] The species is endemic to a small area of northwestern Argentina, where it lives in shrublands bordering the salt flats of the Salinas Grandes.[1] Its diet consists of halophyte plants.[1] It is named after an Argentine musical group, Los Chalchaleros, whose songs were popular with its discoverers.[4]