Kunsia

The South American giant rats ( Kunsia ) are a living in South America rodent genus of the group of the New world with two types.

These animals are the largest living New world. They reach a body length 16-29 centimeters, the tail is 8 to 16 centimeters relatively short. Their coat is rough and in particular close to the top, it's on the back dark brown mixed with gray and dyed lighter on the belly. The feet are large and powerful, and equipped with long claws.

South American giant rats are in eastern Bolivia, the central and southern Brazil and northern Argentina is home. Their habitat is open woods and savannas to 1100 meters in height.

These rodents cause a grave lifestyle. In the dry season they live almost entirely underground, in the rainy season they often come to the surface. They are nocturnal, otherwise little is known about their way of life.

There are two types:

• Kunsia fronto is known by only a few points from northeastern Argentina and the central Brazil.
• Kunsia tomentosus lives in eastern Bolivia and western Brazil.

Both species are known only from a few localities, and are likely to have a highly fragmented distribution area. The IUCN lists K. fronto as endangered ( endangered ) and K. tomentosus as not at risk ( least concern ).