Mammals · Rodentia · Caviidae

Patagonian Mara

Dolichotis patagonum

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It forms monogamous pairs for life, yet raises its young in communal crèches ('settlements') where as many as 29 different pairs share the same burrow. Charles Darwin recorded it on his voyage aboard HMS Beagle.

Weight

8 kg – 16 kg

Size

69 cm – 75 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

DesertGrasslandHerbivore Diurnal In pairs Near Threatened Desert Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

It forms monogamous pairs for life despite rearing its young in shared communal crèches.
As many as 29 different pairs may share the same communal burrow.
Charles Darwin recorded it on his voyage aboard HMS Beagle in the 1830s.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Steppe, scrub and open desert of Argentina, including much of Patagonia
Birth weight: 561.9 grams
Size at birth: Precocial, born with its eyes open and able to move soon afterwards
Sexual maturity: Female: ~5.3 months | Male: ~6 months
Gestation / incubation: 90-100 days (~3 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 2 young per litter, up to 3-4 times a year
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 14.4 years in captivity