Mammals
Mountain Vizcacha
Lagidium viscacia · also called southern viscacha
Basking motionless on a sun-warmed rock to save precious energy in the thin mountain air, a mountain vizcacha combines the body of a rabbit with the tail of a squirrel, a distinctive high-Andean rodent related to chinchillas.
Overview
The mountain vizcacha, Lagidium viscacia, is a Least Concern mammal native to mountain habitat across the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Its distinctive rabbit-and-squirrel body plan, close kinship with chinchillas, and reliance on sun-basking to conserve energy at extreme altitude make it one of the more physically and behaviourally distinctive rodents found anywhere in South America.
A body built from two different blueprints
At a glance, the mountain vizcacha looks like two animals stitched together, its rabbit-like ears and hunched posture paired with a long, bushy tail that would look more at home on a squirrel, a combination shaped entirely by life on cold, rocky Andean slopes.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable rocky habitat throughout the high Andes.
Mountain Vizcacha: common questions
What does the mountain vizcacha look like?
This species has a rabbit-like body shape combined with a long, bushy tail more typical of a squirrel, giving it a distinctive mixed appearance among Andean mammals.
Is the mountain vizcacha related to chinchillas?
Yes, this species belongs to the same broader rodent family as chinchillas, sharing a similarly dense, soft coat adapted to the cold conditions of high mountain habitat.
Why does the mountain vizcacha spend so much time basking on rocks?
This species basks on sun-warmed rocks to conserve energy, an important strategy for surviving the cold, thin air typical of its extreme high-altitude Andean habitat.
How high up does the mountain vizcacha live?
This species is found at extreme high altitude, often several thousand metres above sea level, across rocky slopes throughout the high Andes.