Patagonian Mara(Dolichotis patagonum)
The Patagonian mara resembles a jackrabbit. It has distinctive long ears and long limbs. Its hind limbs are longer and more muscular than its fore limbs and it has a longer radius than humerus. The feet are compressed, making them hoof-like. The fore feet have four digits while the hind feet have three digits. Its tail is short, depressed, and hairless. It has a grey dorsal pelage with a white patch on the rump separated from the dorsal fur by a black area.
In addition, the mara has a white underside with a somewhat orange flank and chin. The average Patagonian mara has a head and body length of 69–75 cm with a tail of 4–5 cm. It weighs 8–16 kg. Unlike most other cavids, such as guinea pigs and capybaras, the anal glands of the mara are between the anus and the base of the tail rather than being anterior to the anus.
Habitat
Patagonian maras are found only in Argentina, from 28 to 50°S. They prefer to live in habitats with shrub cover, but they also inhabit overgrazed and barren soils in the Monte Desert biome. In northwestern Argentina, they primarily inhabit lowland habitats such as forest and creosote bush or larreas. Maras prefer sandy and low shrub habitat in Valdes Peninsula. They have adapted well to a cursorial lifestyle on the open plains and steppe, with long legs, reduced clavicle, and well-developed sensory organs making them capable of running and communicating in these open habitats.
Diet
Patagonian maras are herbivores (folivores). The diet of these rodents consists entirely of plants, mostly Pappophorum grass. They supplement their diet with a wide variety of cacti, foliage and herbs.
Breeding
These rodents have a well-defined monogamous mating system, where individuals form pairs, remaining together throughout their lives. Meanwhile, males are the ones who maintain the pair-bond: they constantly guard their mates, following females wherever they go. Breeding occurs between August and January. Gestation period lasts for 90 days, yielding 2 young per litter. Babies are born near the burrow entrance. Newborn maras are well-developed and their eyes are open. Immediately after birth, the babies are able to move into the burrow that is often shared with several other pairs and their young. The babies live in this burrow, visited and suckled by their mother every day. Nursing period lasts for 75 - 78 days, after which young maras usually disperse, although some of them may remain with their parents until the following breeding season. The age of sexual maturity is 6 months old for males and 2.5 months old for females.
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Near Threatened(NT). The population is decreasing and the species is not easily found. The number of mature individuals is unknown.
Threats
Habitat destruction for agriculture, and hunting for their skins have resulted in localised extinctions such as Buenos Aires Province. The species competes with large, introduced herbivores such as sheep and the European hare. Its widespread distribution has become increasingly fragmented by habitat loss, conversion of grasslands to pasture, and hunting.
Conservation
The species occurs in at least 12 protected areas. It is categorized as Vulnerable in the Red Book of Mammals of Argentina.