Chacoan mara


The Chacoan mara is a relatively large South American rodent of the cavy family. They are a close relative of the better known Patagonian mara.

Habitat

The Chacoan mara lives in the South American Chaco, the dry thorny forests and grasslands of Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Maras dig a burrow to sleep in at night.

Food and diet

The Chacoan mara eat grasses and other herbage. They will eat nearly any available vegetation.

Social structure

Chacoan maras live in small groups of up to four animals.

Scientific classification and relatives

The Chacoan mara is from the family Caviidae, which includes cavies, such as their larger relative the capybara, and guinea pigs. Chacoan maras are closely related to the other member of the genus Dolichotis, the Patagonian mara. Maras are the fourth largest rodent in the world after the capybaras, beavers and porcupines. Though the mara may look like a rabbit, the rabbit is not actually a rodent and therefore not as closely related to the mara as one might expect.