Social tuco-tuco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Social tuco-tuco |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Ctenomyidae |
| Genus: | Ctenomys |
| Species: |
C. sociabilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Ctenomys sociabilis Pearson & Christie, 1985
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The social tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis) is a type of rodent that lives in Argentina. It belongs to the family Ctenomyidae. This animal is endemic to Argentina, which means it is found only in that country and nowhere else in the world. Its natural home is in dry, low-lying grassland areas that have a warm climate.
Where the Social Tuco-Tuco Lives
The social tuco-tuco makes its home in grassy areas called mesic meadows. These meadows are found at about 1,000 meters (about 3,280 feet) above sea level. Mesic means these meadows have a balanced amount of moisture, not too wet and not too dry.
Their living area is quite small, covering about 700 square kilometers (about 270 square miles). This area is surrounded by natural borders:
- To the east, it's bordered by the Rio Limay.
- To the north, it's bordered by the Rio Traful.
- To the south, it's bordered by the Lago Nahuel Huapi.
How Social Tuco-Tucos Behave
One very special thing about the social tuco-tuco is how social it is. Unlike many other tuco-tucos, these animals often share their burrows with other adults. Female tuco-tucos tend to stay close to where they were born, which helps them form strong family groups.
They also show alloparental care. This means that adults other than the parents help take care of the young. For example, an aunt or an older sister might help look after the babies. Even with all this social behavior, scientists have found that these groups have less genetic diversity. This means their genes are quite similar to each other, which can happen when a group stays together and doesn't mix much with other groups.
See also
In Spanish: Tucu-tucu social para niños
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
