Order

Rodentia

Key region

N/A

Range

Bolivia

How this species is doing

The Bolivian Chinchilla Rat (Abrocoma boliviensis) is known only from the vicinity of the type locality near the Comarapa river valley in the province of Manuel M. Caballero, Santa Cruz department, Bolivia. Its currently known range is less than 100 km², although it may possibly range more widely. Individuals have been found in cloud forest at an elevation of 1,800 m above sea level. They tend to be associated with rocky areas, and some researchers have suggested that they may be specialised to this habitat type. Classified as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Pressure

This species appears to have been unaffected by the fur trade which targeted other species of chinchilla rat in the past. The main threat appears to be from habitat loss and degradation. Its range is divided by a road along which human colonisation is occurring. This, together with the clearance of cloud forest for cattle pasture, is fragmenting the species’ habitat.

Responses

This species is not known from any protected areas nor are there any targeted conservation actions in place. There is an urgent need to protect the distinct area of Comarapa. Further research is also needed in this area to try to find additional populations.

Knowledge level

Very little is known about the ecology of this little-known rodent species. It is thought to live in burrows and have a vegetarian diet comprising many kinds of plant material. In common with other hystricognath rodents, it gives birth to precocial young – young that are relatively well-developed and mobile from the moment of birth – presumably after a lengthy gestation period. Chinchilla rats are so-named because of the similarity of their long, dense, soft fur to that of chinchillas. Fur colouration is silvery grey above and white or yellowish below. The Bolivian Chinchilla Rat has a rat-like body with a long pointed nose, large eyes and large rounded ears. The limbs are short. The forefeet have four digits and the hindfeet have five. Stiff hairs project over the claws of the three middle toes of the hind foot, forming combs that are probably used to remove parasites and/or dirt and groom. A. boliviensis is the smallest of the extant Abrocoma species and is distinguishable by their longer, hairier tails.