Natural History of Microcavia niata in the High Andean Zone of Northern Chile

Marquet, Pablo A.; González, Luis Carlos Contreras; Silva, Sérgio; Torres‐Mura, Juan C.; Bozinovic, Francisco

doi:10.2307/1381912

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In particular, we measured the distance at which degus of different grouping conditions detected and reacted (typically running to the nearest burrow entrance) when approached by a human subject while using exposed patches. We chose the use of human subjects because they have been used before during similar studies, and they elicit responses by the prey that are similar to those elicited by real predators (Marquet et al 1993, Bonenfant and Kramer 1996, Schooley et al 1996). Thirdly, archaeological evidence shows that degus have been preyed upon and consumed frequently by humans in the recent past (Simonetti and Cornejo 1991).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One group of rodents that may provide such data is the New World hystricognaths (Branch 1993a, Ebensperger 1998), which includes species found in almost every type of habitat, and with social structures ranging from solitary‐living to highly gregarious species (Redford and Eisenberg 1992, Nowak 1999). Although less known than their murid and sciurid counterparts, evidence revealing that predators strongly influence the behavior of hystricognath species is not uncommon (Rood 1972, Cassini 1991, Cassini and Galante 1992, Branch 1993a, Marquet et al 1993, Yáber and Herrera 1994).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Grouping increases the ability of the social rodent, Octodon degus, to detect predators when using exposed microhabitats

Ebensperger¹,

Wallem²

2002

Oikos

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We examined the hypothesis that a main benefit of group‐living in the hystricognath rodent, Octodon degus (common degu), is to decrease individual risk of predation. During a first series of field observations, we contrasted group size of degus when using covered microhabitats with that of degus using exposed patches. During a second set of field observations, we assessed how distance to detection and to escape by degus varied with group size upon the approach of a potential human predator. Degus in exposed patches formed larger groups than degus in covered microhabitats. After excluding the influence of nearest burrow to focal subjects, we found that degus of larger groups detected an approaching human predator at a greater distance than degus of smaller groups. Likewise, degus of larger groups escaped to nearby burrows at a greater distance from the approaching predator than degus of smaller groups. All these pieces of evidence support the predatory risk hypothesis according to which group‐living in degus functions to reduce the risk of predation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Grouping increases the ability of the social rodent, Octodon degus, to detect predators when using exposed microhabitats

Ebensperger¹,

Wallem²

2002

Oikos

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“…The authors were already mentioned (see Jaksic, 1997, for a general overview), an exception being the report by Marquet et al (1993b) on the natural history of the cavy Microcavia niata.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small mammals of the Atacama Desert (Chile)

Jaksic

Torres‐Mura

Cornelius

et al. 1999

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…Its living members were traditionally arranged in the subfamilies Dolichotinae and Caviinae (Wilson & Reeder, 1993) but today this also includes the subfamily Hydrochoerinae (Woods & Kilpatrick, 2005). The caviines have recently received attention concerning their taxonomy, ecology, palaeontology, behaviour and evolution (Rood, 1970, 1972; Mones & Castiglioni, 1979; Marquet et al. , 1993; Quintana, 1996, 1998, 2001; Ubilla, Piñeiro & Quintana, 1999; Ebensperger & Cofré, 2001; Tognelli, Campos & Ojeda, 2001; Ubilla & Rinderknecht, 2001; Solmsdorff et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, 2001). Microcavia niata inhabits the Bolivian high Andean plateau and highlands of northern Chile (Marquet et al. , 1993; Anderson, 1997) whereas Microcavia shiptoni , a poorly known caviine species, is restricted to the highlands of north‐west Argentina (Thomas, 1925; Kraglievich, 1931) (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postcranial morphology of the extinct caviine rodentMicrocavia criolloensis(late Pleistocene, South America)

Ubilla

2008

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

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A comparative study of the appendicular skeletal morphology, with a particular emphasis on the autopodial elements (manus and pes), of the extinct caviine rodent Microcavia criolloensis (Late Pleistocene, Uruguay), together with that of living species of Microcavia and some allied caviines is performed. Burrow-digging and above-ground behaviour by M. criolloensis could have evolved in the Late Pleistocene, as with its relative M. australis in the Recent. This is suggested based on the morphology of preserved articulated skeletons along with fossil burrow-like structures. The most remarkable features are: in its forelimb, where the humerus has a structure that would have allowed it to perform similar activities to M. australis, based on humeral width across the epicondiles relative to total humerus length index and a good resistance as indicated by high values relating the diameter of the diaphysis to its total length. Qualitative comparison shows that M. criolloensis had a stout, wide manus with relatively short digits including short, wide phalanges, despite its large size. In its hind limb there is a stout hind-foot with relatively short and wide metatarsals and phalanges, as compared with those of the recent species, that could arguably be considered a useful tool for shovelling out displaced soil. The generalized morphology suggests above-ground behaviour together with digging ability. The environmental adaptations of M. criolloensis are also briefly discussed, which seem to differ from those of its extant relatives.

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Natural History of Microcavia niata in the High Andean Zone of Northern Chile

Cited by 19 publications

References 8 publications

Grouping increases the ability of the social rodent, Octodon degus, to detect predators when using exposed microhabitats

Grouping increases the ability of the social rodent, Octodon degus, to detect predators when using exposed microhabitats

Small mammals of the Atacama Desert (Chile)

Postcranial morphology of the extinct caviine rodentMicrocavia criolloensis(late Pleistocene, South America)

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