Sandy colilargo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandy colilargo
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Genus:	Oligoryzomys
Species:	O. arenalis
Binomial name
Oligoryzomys arenalis (Thomas, 1913)
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The Oligoryzomys arenalis, also known as the sandy colilargo or sandy pygmy rice rat, is a small rodent. It belongs to a group of animals called Oligoryzomys. These animals are part of the Cricetidae family, which includes many types of mice and rats.

This little rat lives in the Andes mountains of Peru. It can be found at high altitudes, from about 400 meters (1,300 feet) up to 2,850 meters (9,350 feet). Scientists think there might be more than one type of sandy pygmy rice rat.

What is a Sandy Pygmy Rice Rat?

The sandy pygmy rice rat is a type of rodent. Rodents are mammals with front teeth that never stop growing. This means they need to constantly gnaw on things to keep their teeth short. Other common rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, and hamsters.

Where Does It Live?

This small rat makes its home in the Andes mountains. The Andes are a very long mountain range in South America. The sandy pygmy rice rat lives specifically in the part of the Andes that runs through Peru. It prefers areas that are between 400 and 2,850 meters high. This means it can live in different types of environments, from lower valleys to higher mountain slopes.

What Does "LC" Mean?

In the animal world, scientists use special codes to show if an animal is safe or in danger. The "LC" you see in the infobox stands for "Least Concern." This means that, right now, the sandy pygmy rice rat is not considered to be at risk of disappearing. It has a healthy population, and there are no major threats to its survival.