Budin's chinchilla rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Budin's chinchilla rat |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Abrocoma
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| Species: |
budini
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The Budin's chinchilla rat (Abrocoma budini) is a special type of chinchilla rat. It belongs to the family Abrocomidae. This small animal is found only in Argentina, a country in South America.
Scientists first learned about this species from just four rats. They were found living among rocks in high places. These rats live in rocky areas over 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) above sea level. This is higher than many mountains! They are mainly known from Catamarca Province and La Rioja Province.
In 2002, scientists from the University of Oklahoma studied these rats. They confirmed that Budin's chinchilla rat is its own unique species. We don't know much about how many of these rats there are. Because of this, experts can't say if they are in danger or not.
Discovering Budin's Chinchilla Rat
This interesting animal was first described in 1920. A British zoologist named Oldfield Thomas gave it its scientific name. He worked at the Natural History Museum, London.
The rat is named after Emilio Budin. He was an Argentine collector who helped Oldfield Thomas find animal specimens.
For a while, some scientists thought this rat was a type of ashy chinchilla rat. But in 2002, scientists Braun and Mares showed it was a different species. This means it's a unique kind of chinchilla rat.
Where It Lives and Its Status
Budin's chinchilla rat lives in specific rocky areas. These areas are often very high up in the mountains.
One challenge for these rats is controlled burning. Farmers sometimes burn plants to clear land for cattle. This can harm the places where the rats live. We don't know if these rats live in any protected areas.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps track of animals around the world. They say we don't know enough about Budin's chinchilla rat. We need more information about how many there are and if their numbers are changing. Because of this, the IUCN lists the Budin's chinchilla rat as "data deficient". This means more research is needed to understand its situation.
See also
In Spanish: Rata chinchilla catamarqueña para niños
