Ctenomys roigi J. R. Contreras 1988
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Ctenomyidae
Ctenomys
Ctenomys roigi

description: 29.
Roig’s Tuco-tuco
Ctenomys roigi
French: Tuco-tuco de Roig / German: Roig-Kammratte / Spanish: Tuco tuco de Roig
Taxonomy. Ctenomys roigi J. R. Contreras, 1988,
“Procedente de Costa Mansion, | 10km. al sur de Empedrado, Departamento Empedrado, Provincia de Corrientes, 28°02’ S, 58°49’ W, 60 m,” Argentina.
Based on biogeography, C. roigi is considered as belonging to the Corrientes group; based on molecular aspects,it is classified in the forquatusspecies group. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 48 and FN = 76, and sperm is symmetric. Monotypic.
Distribution. NE Argentina, known only from a region about 36 km along the Parana River in Corrientes Province.
Descriptive notes. Total length 260-299 mm (average 277-8 mm), head-body 176 200 mm (average 198-1 mm), tail 76-99 mm (average 88-7 mm), hindfoot with claw 34-5-43-8 mm (average 38-6 mm); weight 175-5-278-8 g (average 231-1 g). Roig’s Tuco-tuco is relatively large. Head-body length of males is, on average, 105% more than that of females. Such sexual dimorphism also occurs with body weight; males are 131% heavier than females. Dorsum is brownish, tawnier on back, and clay on flanks, becoming gradually lighter from head to rump. Venter is cinnamon, with pale creamy wash and axillary and inguinal white spots on most individuals. Head has dark area stretching from nose to neck, more accentuated in worn than newly molted pelage. Legs and feet are almost white, and tail is sparsely covered with hair and moderately bicolored. Roig’s Tuco-tuco does not show typical light collar on other species of tuco-tucos. Skull is robust, solid, and strong, equipped with only moderately expanded tympanic bullae not visible in dorsal view. Zygomatic arch is strong, with large breadth across arches; rostrum is short and robust, with very broad nasal bones. Upperincisors are markedly proodont. Baculum is small and spatula-shaped, with flat and rougher ventral face and slightly convex dorsalface.
Habitat. Sandy loam soils, sometimes in areas overgrazed by cattle.
Food and Feeding. Roig’s Tuco-tuco feeds from within its burrow on tubers, roots, and basal stems of grasses. Rather than venturing out of their burrows, individuals pull surrounding vegetation into the burrow and consume it underground.
Breeding. Reproduction of Roig’s Tuco-tuco occurs during austral spring and summer, with 50% of females pregnant or lactating in October. By December, 40% of young are offspring-of-the-year. Litter size appears to be quite small, averaging slightly over one young.
Activity patterns. There is no information available forthis species.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Roig’s Tuco-tucos are solitary, living in adjacent burrows.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Extent of occurrence of Roig’s Tuco-tuco is less than 100 km2, and its area of occupancy is less than 10 km? All individuals are in four localities—Colonia Brougnes, Costa Mansion, Empedrado, and Estancia Yacireti—and there is continuing decline in extent and quality of its habitat.
Bibliography. Bidau (2006, 2015), Contreras & Bidau (1999), Giménez, Bidau & Searle (2001), Giménez, Mirol et al. (2002), Ortells (1995), Ortells & Barrantes (1994), Ortells et al. (1990), Parada et al. (2011), Reig et al. (1992).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Ctenomyidae, pp. 498-534 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 522, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6588177