Ctenomys australis Rusconi 1934
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 australis

description: 37.
Dune Tuco-tuco
Ctenomys australis
French: Tuco-tuco austral / German: Dinenkammratte / Spanish: Tuco tuco austral
Other common names: Southern Tuco-tuco
Taxonomy. Ctenomys australis Rusconi, 1934,
“Necochea (F.C.S.), Provincia de Buenos Aires,” 38°33’ §, 58°45’ W, 10 m.
Chromosomal complement of Ctenomys australis is 2n = 46-48 and FN = 76 and 80, and sperm form is simple asymmetric. Ctenomys australis belongs to the mendocinus-species group based both on biogeography and molecular phylogeny, and it is also very similar to C. flamarioni, with the same diploid number, sperm form, and pattern of G, Cand NOR-chromosome bands. Phylogeographic pattern was determined for C. australis using mtDNA control region (D-loop) sequences, showing 24 haplotypes. These data suggests recent population expansion. Ctenomys australis is sympatric with C. talarum recessus, but both species occupy different types of soil and vegetation. Clenomys australis lives in areas with sparse vegetation in sandy and deep soils, while C. talarum inhabits areas with dense vegetation in compact and shallow soils. Thus, these species are segregated relative to selection of microhabitats, differing in relation to soil and vegetation characteristics. Monotypic.
Distribution. CE Argentina, along the Atlantic coast in S Buenos Aires Province.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 212-215 mm, tail 96-103 mm, hindfoot 41-43 mm; weight 349-366 g. The Dune Tuco-tuco is light-colored and medium to large-sized. Skull is longer and broader than that of the Brazilian Tuco-tuco (C. brasiliensis), but zygomatic arch and interorbital width are smaller. Rostrum and mandible are robust, and incisors are very narrow.
Habitat. First dunes of beaches but also second-line of dunes, in areas with rare vegetation, along the Atlantic coast of southern Argentina in the Pampa ecoregion. Where the Dune Tuco-tuco is sympatric with the Talas Tuco-tuco (C. talarum), it appears to exclude the Talas Tuco-tuco from these dune areas.
Food and Feeding. The Dune Tuco-tucos primarily forages on aerial vegetation, particularly grasses (up to 97% of diets).
Breeding. Meanlitter size of the Dune Tuco-tuco is 2-9 young. Adult sex ratio is female biased.
Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Dune Tuco-tuco is solitary. Up to 75% of population might be adults, and older individuals appear to be less likely to disperse.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Apfelbaum et al. (1991), Bidau (2015), Busch et al. (2000), Comparatore et al. (1992), Contreras & Bidau (1999), Cutrera et al. (2010), Freitas (1994, 1995a), Malizia et al. (1991), Massarini & Freitas (2005), Massarini et al. (1991), Mora, Lessa et al. (2006), Mora, Mapelli et al. (2010), Parada et al. (2011), Vitullo et al. (1988).
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 pages 524-525, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6588177