EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Each week a different image of our fascinating environment is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional ecologist.

26 January - 1 February 2015

Viscacha of the Atacama

Mountain (or Southern) Viscacha (Lagidium viscacia), Family Chinchillidae
Atacama Desert, Chile

Credit & Copyright:  Dr. Bruce G. Marcot

Explanation:  This is not a rabbit ... despite its large ears, hopping gait, nibbling browse behavior, and long hind legs.  Check out the long fluffy tail; definitely not a rabbit.  

This is a viscacha, a member of the chinchilla family ... more specifically, this is a mountain (or southern) viscacha, one of 2 genera and 5 species of viscacha in the New World.  Some species dig burrows but this one uses rock shelters and crevices.

I photographed and videoed this specimen in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, at El Tatio Geyers, at over 14,000 feet (4,320 m) elevation.  

Despite being widely harvested for its fur and meat, this species is not threatened, although its overall population size likely has declined.  

  

  


Next week's picture:  Back of the Rain Shadow

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