Mammal · GBIF taxon 2437619
Dolichotis patagonum
dolichotis patagonumAlso known as Patagonian Cavy, Patagonian Hare
Long-legged and built like a miniature antelope, Patagonian maras bound across scrublands at speeds reaching 40 kilometers per hour. Adult pairs form lifelong monogamous bonds, remaining close together while taking turns watching for aerial and land predators. Females give birth to offspring that are raised alongside other pairs' young in massive shared underground warrens.
DiurnalMonogamousHerbivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Forbs
- Cacti
Predators
- Puma
- Culpeo Fox
- Lesser Rhea
ThreatsHabitat conversion for agriculture and competition with introduced European hares and livestock
HabitatsArid central and southern Argentine scrublands, grasslands, and semi-deserts
Life span10 to 15 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderRodentia
- FamilyCaviidae
- GenusDolichotis
- Speciesdolichotis patagonum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by long deer-like legs, large ears, grey fur, and a white patch on the rump and throat.
- Support conservation
- Observe breeding warrens from a distance to prevent scaring adults away from nursing pups.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Use binoculars in open scrublands during early morning or late afternoon when active.
- Distance: Maintain a wide buffer zone as they startle easily and flee at high speed.
- Patience: Look for monogamous pairs foraging together while one stays alert on lookout duty.
Predator National Park Service / Public domain · cc0
Predator (c) Luciano Massa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Luciano Massa · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Gonzalo Roget, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative "Capybara" by lorentey is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Kacper Aleksander, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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