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Tuco-tuco facts for kids

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Tuco-tuco
Temporal range: Late Pliocene–Recent
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Tinytuco.jpg
Female Haig's tuco-tuco (Ctenomys haigi)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Hystricomorpha
Infraorder: Hystricognathi
Parvorder: Caviomorpha
Superfamily: Octodontoidea
Family: Ctenomyidae
Lesson, 1842
Genus: Ctenomys
Blainville, 1826
Type species
Ctenomys brasiliensis
Species

See text

A tuco-tuco is a small animal, like a mouse or rat, that lives in warm parts of the Americas. It belongs to a family called Ctenomyidae. Tuco-tucos are the only living animals in their family, and they all belong to one group called Ctenomys. But there are about 60 different kinds, or species, of tuco-tucos! Their name "tuco-tuco" comes from the "tuc-tuc" sound they make when digging their homes underground.

Scientists are still trying to figure out how all the different tuco-tuco species are related. It's a bit confusing, but studying their chromosomes (tiny parts of their cells) is helping. Their closest relatives are degus and other animals in the Octodontidae family. All tuco-tucos live in South America, from Peru and central Brazil down to the very south. They play a similar role in their environment as pocket gophers do in North America.

What Tuco-Tucos Look Like

Tuco-tucos have strong, tube-shaped bodies with short legs. Their fur can be black or light gray. Their skin is a bit loose, which might help them move easily in their tunnels. They have long front feet for digging. Their back feet are bristly, which helps them clean themselves. They also have big heads, small ears, and furry tails.

Tuco-tucos can be about 15 to 25 centimeters (6 to 10 inches) long. They can weigh from just 100 grams (like the C. pundti) to over 1000 grams (like the C. conoveri).

Where Tuco-Tucos Live

Tuco-tucos live in many places, but over 50 species are found in the southern half of South America. You can find them from southern Peru and Brazil all the way down to the tip of South America, called Tierra del Fuego. They also live in parts of Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina.

They can live in different areas, from grassy coasts to high mountain slopes. Some even live in the Andes Mountains over 4000 meters (13,000 feet) high! Where they live depends on things like the type of soil, the temperature, and how much plant life is around.

Tuco-Tuco Homes

Tuco-tucos live in burrows they dig themselves. They spend most of their lives (up to 90%) underground! It's thought that almost half of all underground rodents in the world are tuco-tucos. Their burrows stay at a steady temperature and humidity, no matter where they are.

To dig, they have special body features. These include their body shape, small eyes, and strong limbs. They have a great sense of smell, which helps them find their way and mark their territory while digging. They use two main ways to dig:

  • Scratch-digging: They use their claws and front legs to scrape away soil.
  • Skull-tooth digging: They use their head and strong front teeth to dig.

They often use both methods together.

Tuco-Tuco Behavior

Tuco-tucos are active during the day. They switch between being busy and resting throughout the day.

What Tuco-Tucos Eat

They mostly find food by digging tunnels. Digging for food uses a lot of energy, so they eat many different kinds of plants.

How Tuco-Tucos Find Mates

Not much is known about how tuco-tucos find partners, because it happens underground in their burrows. We do know that the male acts a bit aggressive and shares sounds or smells with the female.

Different Kinds of Tuco-Tucos

One interesting thing about tuco-tucos is that different species can be very different in how social they are and how much their genes vary. Most tuco-tucos live alone. However, some live in small groups, and a few are quite social, like the C. sociabilis. The most social species tend to have less genetic variety.

Scientists are still learning why there are so many different kinds of tuco-tucos. It's thought that they are one of the most diverse groups of mammals. This might be because their genes change quickly, leading to new species. They have a huge range of chromosomes, from 10 to 70!

Tuco-Tucos and Humans

Humans sometimes see tuco-tucos as pests because they can damage farms. This puts them at risk.

Tuco-Tucos and Indigenous People

Before Europeans came to South America, tuco-tucos were an important food source for the Fuegian people in Tierra del Fuego.

Tuco-Tuco Species List

A fossil species called Ctenomys viarapaensis is known from old remains found in central Argentina.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tuco-tuco para niños

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