Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 10, 2026

Abrocoma

Abrocoma is a genus of abrocomid rodents found in the Andes of South America, from southern Peru to central Chile. The genus contains eight species, most of which are found in isolated mountain ranges in northwestern Argentina. The oldest fossil record for the Caviomorpha appears at the late Eocene-Early Oligocene transition. The Abrocoma has an interesting body structure for example within its own head it has a sac that contains a liquid that is not named by Janet K. Braun and Michael A. Mares(894). They also have feet that are padded which helped to completely say with certainty that it is a rock dweller but also a rock climber.(896).

Last revised
Jun 10, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
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Citations
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Source
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Abrocoma
Abrocoma bennettii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Placentalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Abrocomidae
Genus: Abrocoma
Waterhouse, 1837
Type species
Abrocoma bennettii
Species

See text

Abrocomidae distribution. Abrocoma in red; Cuscomys in green in box.

Abrocoma is a genus of abrocomid rodents found in the Andes of South America, from southern Peru to central Chile. The genus contains eight species, most of which are found in isolated mountain ranges in northwestern Argentina. The oldest fossil record for the Caviomorpha appears at the late Eocene-Early Oligocene transition (37.5–31.5 mybp).1 The Abrocoma has an interesting body structure for example within its own head it has a sac that contains a liquid that is not named by Janet K. Braun and Michael A. Mares(894). They also have feet that are padded which helped to completely say with certainty that it is a rock dweller but also a rock climber.(896).

Species

Additionally, the species Cuscomys oblativus was formerly classified as A. oblativus, but has been reassigned.2

References

References

  1. Gallardo, Milton; Kirsch, John (March 2001). "Molecular relationships among Octodontidae". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 8 (1): 73–89. doi:10.1023/A:1011345000786. S2CID 24884119.
  2. https://darrennaish.blogspot.com/2006/03/giant-furry-pets-of-incas.html Giant Furry Pets Of The Incas
Further reading

Further reading

  • Braun, J. K. and M. A. Mares. 2002. Systematics of the Abrocoma cinerea species complex (Rodentia: Abrocomidae), with a description of a new species of Abrocoma. Journal of Mammalogy, 83:1-19.
  • Braun, J. K., & Mares, M. A. (1996). Unusual morphological and behavioral traits in Abrocoma (rodentia: Abrocomidae) from Argentina. Journal of Mammalogy, 77(3), 891. https://doi.org/10.2307/1382695