Mammals
Plains Viscacha
Lagostomus maximus · also called plains vizcacha
Emerging at dusk from a sprawling communal burrow known as a vizcachera, a plains viscacha forages near an entrance decorated with an odd collection of bones and sticks, a behaviour that has puzzled researchers studying this stocky, rabbit-like South American rodent for years.
Overview
The plains viscacha, Lagostomus maximus, is a large, colony-dwelling rodent native to grassland and desert habitat across parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Its extensive shared burrow systems, peculiar habit of collecting found objects near burrow entrances, and rabbit-like build make it one of the more socially and behaviourally distinctive rodents found anywhere in South America.
A collector with no clear reason why
Few rodents anywhere display a habit as genuinely puzzling as the plains viscacha’s tendency to gather bones, sticks, and stones near its burrow entrance, a behaviour that has drawn scientific curiosity without ever being fully explained.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable grassland and desert habitat throughout parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Plains Viscacha: common questions
What is a vizcachera?
A vizcachera is the name for the large, long-established communal burrow system this species constructs and shares, which can house dozens of individuals and persist across many generations, forming one of the more elaborate underground colony structures among South American rodents.
Why does the plains viscacha collect objects near its burrow?
This species has a distinctive habit of gathering and depositing bones, sticks, stones, and other found objects near its burrow entrances, a behaviour whose exact purpose, whether related to territory marking, predator detection, or another function, remains debated among researchers.
Why is the plains viscacha sometimes considered a pest?
This species is sometimes considered an agricultural pest due to its extensive burrowing and grazing habits on cultivated land bordering its natural grassland habitat, leading to conflict with farmers in parts of its range across Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Is the plains viscacha related to the chinchilla?
Yes, this species belongs to the same broader rodent family as the chinchilla, sharing a similar general body plan, though the plains viscacha is considerably larger and lives in extensive underground burrow colonies rather than the more exposed rocky habitat favoured by wild chinchillas.