Mammals
Patagonian Mara
Dolichotis patagonum · also called Patagonian cavy
Bounding across the open Argentine steppe with long, deer-like strides, a Patagonian mara returns to a communal den shared with several other monogamous pairs, one of the largest rodents alive yet built and behaving almost nothing like the rodents most people picture.
Overview
The Patagonian mara, Dolichotis patagonum, is one of the largest living rodents, native to grassland and desert habitat across central and southern Argentina. Its deer-like body and gait, long-term monogamous pair bonds, and shared communal denning behaviour make it one of the most physically and socially unusual rodents found anywhere in the world.
A rodent that forgot to look like one
Long legs, a springy running gait, and a build closer to a hare or small deer make the Patagonian mara one of the most visually surprising rodents on Earth, its size and shape shaped entirely by a life spent evading predators across open, exposed terrain.
Status
Near Threatened, having declined across parts of Argentina due to habitat loss, hunting, and competition with introduced European hares.
Patagonian Mara: common questions
Why does the Patagonian mara look like a deer?
This species has long legs and a deer-like build that set it apart visually from nearly every other rodent species, moving with long, springy strides and considerable running speed, a body plan that evolved independently to suit its open, predator-exposed grassland and desert habitat.
Does the Patagonian mara mate for life?
Yes, this species typically forms long-term monogamous breeding pairs, an unusual social structure among rodents, with both parents involved in raising young that are often kept in a communal den shared with the offspring of several other pairs.
How big does the Patagonian mara get?
This species is among the largest living rodents in the world, considerably bigger than the vast majority of rodent species, with a body size and shape that leads many people to mistake it for a small deer or hare rather than a rodent at all.
Why has the Patagonian mara declined?
This species has declined across parts of Argentina due to habitat loss, hunting, and competition with introduced European hares, which occupy similar grassland habitat and compete for the same food resources, contributing to its classification as Near Threatened.