Dolichotis is a genus of the cavy family of rodents.[1] These large relatives of guinea pigs are common in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina, but also live in Paraguay and elsewhere in South America. It contains a single extant species, the Patagonian mara, which is the one of the largest rodents in the world after the two species each of capybaras and beavers, and the large species of porcupines, reaching about 45 cm (18 in) in height.
The Chacoan mara has and sometimes still is also considered a member of this genus. However, a 2020 study by the American Society of Mammalogists found significant difference between the two mara species to warrant placing it in the genus Pediolagus.[2]
Dolichotis means "long-eared" (from dolicho- "long" and ōt- "ear") in Ancient Greek.[3]
One extant and two extinct species of in this genus are recognized:
Fossils are known from Argentina:[4]
Patagonian mara at the Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio, Texas
A pair of Patagonian maras at the Melbourne Zoo
Close-up of a Patagonian mara
Mara at Tropical Wings
Dolichotis is a genus of the cavy family of rodents. These large relatives of guinea pigs are common in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina, but also live in Paraguay and elsewhere in South America. It contains a single extant species, the Patagonian mara, which is the one of the largest rodents in the world after the two species each of capybaras and beavers, and the large species of porcupines, reaching about 45 cm (18 in) in height.
The Chacoan mara has and sometimes still is also considered a member of this genus. However, a 2020 study by the American Society of Mammalogists found significant difference between the two mara species to warrant placing it in the genus Pediolagus.
