Vizcacha, Guia de Fauna. RutaChile

Familia: Chinchillidae
Genero: Lagidium
Nombre Cientifico: viscacia

Habitat: Cordilleran areas, in dry and stony grounds. Both in the Andes Mountains and on the Coast.
Characteristics: mammal that lives mainly in rocks where they can hide easily. And start from the harassment of the cougar.

The Vizcacha is found mainly in the south of the Atacama Region. But also in the sectors of Qda. Carrizalillo (Cerrillos) and San Miguel. It looks quite like a hare, except for the long tail with strong fur.
The Vizcacha, along with the Carpincho, is part of the group of autochthonous major rodents. It abounds and is, in certain regions, a real plague, despite constant persecution.
Its hunting is prohibited its hunting in all Chile and it is cataloged like species in danger.
It is a great tunnel builder. Generally in areas of firm hills and a few centimeters from the surface, it makes a large amount of these sub-corridors.
A man can pass over them without noticing, not so the horses that sniff the vizcacheras and refuses to transit them because they generally fall apart due to the weight of the animal.

The vizcachas attack all kinds of vegetables and roots cause damage to crops, so they are always fought.
Their habits are nocturnal. When the night arrives, the oldest male (Vizcachón) first appears, then warns the rest if there is any danger and, if not, all the members of the vizcachera leave.
The meat of the vizcacha is white and very delicious, suitable for human consumption; It is exported to European markets and its skin is commercialized in the fur industry.

Países onde mora Vizcacha

ARGENTINA     BOLIVIA     CHILE     PARAGUAY     PERU