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Dolichotinae Temporal range: Montehermosan-Recent
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Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Caviidae |
Subfamily: | Dolichotinae |
Genera | |
See text | |
Approximate range of the extant maras |
Maras, subfamily Dolichotinae, are a group of rodents in the family Caviidae.[1] These large relatives of guinea pigs are common in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina, but also live in Paraguay and elsewhere in South America. There are two extant species, the Patagonian mara of the genus Dolichotis and the Chacoan mara of the genus Pediolagus. Traditionally this species was also thought to belong to Dolichotis; however, a 2020 study by the American Society of Mammalogists found significant difference between the two mara species to warrant resurrecting the genus Pediolagus for it.[2] Several extinct genera are also known.[3]