Patagonian colilargo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patagonian colilargo |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligoryzomys
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| Species: |
magellanicus
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The Patagonian colilargo (also called the Magellanic pygmy rice rat) is a small rodent. Its scientific name is Oligoryzomys magellanicus. This little animal belongs to the Oligoryzomys group, which is part of the Cricetidae family (a large group of rodents). You can find the Patagonian colilargo in the very southern parts of Argentina and Chile. This includes places like Tierra del Fuego and other nearby islands.
Contents
About the Patagonian Colilargo
What is a Species?
Scientists group living things into different categories. This is called Taxonomy. Sometimes, it's hard to decide if an animal is a full species on its own or just a type (subspecies) of another animal. For a while, scientists debated if the Patagonian colilargo was a separate species. They wondered if it was just a subspecies of the Oligoryzomys longicaudatus.
In 1990, two scientists, Milton H. Gallardo and Eduardo Palma, studied the Patagonian colilargo. They looked at its karyotype (the number and shape of its chromosomes) and its body measurements. Based on their findings, they decided it was indeed its own unique species.
How to Identify This Rodent
The Magellanic pygmy rice rat is about the same length from its head to its body as its tail. Its ears are not too big and are rounded. They have small hairs on both the inside and outside.
The fur on its back is a grayish-buff color. Its belly and underside are whitish. Both its front and back feet have white fur on top. You might even see little tufts of white hairs sticking out past its claws. The tail is thin and doesn't have much fur.
Where it Lives and What it Eats
Like other rodents in its group, the Patagonian colilargo likely eats seeds, fruits, and insects. It's a bit of an omnivore!
You can find this pygmy rice rat living in forests. It often shares its home with another small rodent called the olive grass mouse. However, you won't find the Patagonian colilargo in wide-open grasslands (pampas) or in scrubland areas. One famous place where these rats live is the Torres del Paine National Park. This park is in the southern part of Patagonia in Chile.
Conservation Status
The Patagonian colilargo is quite common on Tierra del Fuego. But as you go further north, it becomes harder to find.
Good news! This species is not facing any major threats right now. It lives across a wide area and can be found in several protected parks. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has given it a conservation status of "least concern". This means scientists are not worried about it becoming endangered anytime soon.
See also
In Spanish: Oligoryzomys magellanicus para niños
