Lagidium viscacia

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CHINCHILLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Lagidium viscacia

Species Authority:

(Molina, 1782)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Southern Mountain Viscacha, Southern Viscacha

Taxonomic Notes:

In Bolivia, there are three subspecies; further taxonomic review is needed to confirm whether these should be considered to be distinct species (N. Bernal pers. comm.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Dunnum, J., Vargas, J., Bernal, N., Zeballos, H., Lessa, E., Ojeda, R. & Bidau, C.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, however, restricted to rock formations. It occurs in a number of protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category. This species is hunted and should be periodically evaluated for impacts of this threat.

History:

2000

–

Data Deficient

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in southern Peru, southern and western Bolivia, northern Chilie and western Argentina (Woods and Kilpatrick 2005). It occurs between 2,500 m asl to 5,100 m asl. The distribution limit of this species in western Bolivia needs to be revised. This species is not present in southern Peru (H. Zeballos pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Chile; Peru
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Species occurs in low local abundances (Cofre and Marquet 1999). It is a very common species although it has a patchy distribution, populations may fluctuate in relation to extreme seasonal weather.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Species is a habitat generalist (Cofre and Marquet 1999). Inhabits rocky mountain areas as well as rock outcrops in steppe habitat (Galende and Trejo 2003). This herbivorous species is specialized and restricted to rocky habitats where it colonizes rock crevices. Available habitat is patchy (Walker et al., 2003). It occurs up to 4,800 m asl (Barquez et al. 2006)
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is locally hunted by people for meat and fur although, in general, this does not significantly impact populations (Barquez et al. 2006). There appear to be no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

It is locally hunted by people for meat and fur although, in general, this does not significantly impact populations (Barquez et al. 2006). There appear to be no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is present in several protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

It is present in several protected areas.

Citation:	Dunnum, J., Vargas, J., Bernal, N., Zeballos, H., Lessa, E., Ojeda, R. & Bidau, C. 2008. Lagidium viscacia. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 2013.
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