Coruro

Spalacopus cyanus

The Coruro ( Spalacopus cyanus) is a living in South America rodent species from the family of deceit rats ( Octodontidae ). He is the best adapted to a grave lifestyle representative of this group.

Features

Coruros are stocky animals with a large head and short neck. The soft fur is dyed dark brown or black, the feet are dark gray. The tail is relatively short, it is provided with scales and glabrous. Eyes and ears are small. The incisors are long, broad and strongly bent forward, the molars are permanently growing, the bumps are arranged in the form of a figure eight on the occlusal surfaces. Coruros reach a body length from 11.5 to 16.5 centimeters, the tail is 4 to 6 inches long. The weight is 60 to 120 grams.

Distribution and habitat

Coruros are endemic to Chile, they come from the region of Coquimbo to Maule Region ago. They inhabit both coastal and mountainous countries up to 3000 meters above sea level, habitat of this type are dry areas such as savannas and alpine grasslands.

Way of life

Coruros are very active during the day, they rarely come to the surface, but cause a grave, subterranean lifestyle. The complex burrows consist of connecting tunnels that are 10 to 12 inches below ground and have 5 to 7 inches in diameter, these passageways lead way to the surface to shovel either to forage or to earth upwards. These animals dig with their front paws and teeth, the hind legs are used to scrape the earth upward.

Burrows are inhabited jointly. Groups consist of about 15 animals, including several males. The transition systems of the individual groups can be directly next to each other or even be connected to each other, so sometimes large areas with Corurobauen are traversed. A group usually remains only briefly in an area. If after little days, the food resources are depleted, they move on and create new burrows.

Coruros communicate with a number of sounds, such as a sequence of three to four whistling, the last five seconds.

Food

Main food of Coruros are the onions and stalks of Leucocoryne ixioides, a leek plant ( Alliaceae ). Food intake is done exclusively underground. These animals lay in their burrows on food supplies for the winter, they do not hibernate.

Reproduction

Little is known about reproduction, females are likely to bring young talent to the world twice a year. After an approximately 77 - day gestation, two to five young are born. After 60 days, they are weaned. Animals in captivity may be over 5 years old.

Coruros and people

Sometimes people dig out the food supplies Coruros, a total likely the style but be widespread and not threatened.