The Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), also known as the Patagonian cavy or Patagonian hare, is a relatively large rodent found in Argentina, including Patagonia. This herbivorous animal, resembling a rabbit, inhabits open and semi-open areas. Understanding its diet and nutritional needs is crucial for both wild populations and those in captivity, such as in zoos.
Physical Characteristics and Habitat
The Patagonian mara resembles a jackrabbit, with upright ears and long limbs. Its hind limbs are more muscular than its forelimbs, and its feet are compressed, giving them a hoof-like appearance. The average mara measures 69-75 cm (27-30 in) in head and body length, with a short, hairless tail of 4-5 cm (1.6-2.0 in). It typically weighs between 8-16 kg (18-35 lb).
These animals are found only in Argentina, between 28 and 50°S, and prefer habitats with shrub cover. They have adapted to a cursorial lifestyle on open plains and steppes.
Dietary Habits in the Wild
Patagonian maras are primarily herbivorous, feeding mainly on green vegetation and fruit. Their diet varies based on the season and available resources.
Seasonal Variations
Patagonian maras show considerable flexibility in adjusting their diet to different ecosystems, with temporal activity rhythms related to environmental factors. Light, precipitation, and temperature have positive effects on annual activities, while darkness and relative humidity have negative effects. The daily activity of maras is unimodal in winter and bimodal in other seasons, with a preferred temperature of around 20 °C or 68 °F.
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Specific Food Preferences
In the Monte Desert, monocots make up 70% of their diet, while dicots make up 30%. They select relatively rare grasses as their primary forage and have been observed foraging on 24 species of grasses and 22 other species of plants. Their diet may also include cacti, which can be a significant source of water.
Nutritional Adaptations
Patagonian maras are hindgut fermenters. Their digestive system is adapted to process large amounts of fibrous plant material, with food passing from the stomach to the large intestine.
Social Behavior and Feeding
Maras are primarily diurnal, with around 46% of their daily activities involving feeding. Females spend more time feeding than males due to the demands of gestation and lactation. Males spend most of the day sitting and being vigilant for predators.
Social Structure
Their social organizations feature monogamy and communal breeding. Pairs stay together for life, with replacement of partners only occurring after one's death. The male maintains the pair by following the female, marking her with urine, and marking the ground around her with secretions and feces, creating a mobile territory.
Communal Living
Pairs breed alone or with other pairs in warrens shared by up to 29 pairs. Communal living provides protection from predators, with higher survival rates for young in larger groups. One pair visits the den at a time for around one hour, while other parents circle around the den.
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Feeding Behavior
Patagonian maras are diurnal, cursorial rodents that move together at one time, grazing in rich patches rather than sparse ones. Females spend more time feeding than males, especially during gestation and lactation. They often graze in settlements, which can be shared by up to 29 pairs, with groups of up to 70 maras observed.
Vocalizations and Communication
Maras make various vocalizations during grazing or slow locomotion. They emit an inflected "wheet" when seeking contact and a low, repetitive grunt when following another mara. Tooth chattering and low grunts indicate threat, while a series of short grunts occur during grooming.
Scent Marking
Scent marking is crucial for social interactions. Maras stretch and sniff the soil, then sit upright with an arched back and flatten their anogenital area to the ground, known as anal digging. Males may also urinate on a female's rump, to which the female responds by spraying urine back into the male's face.
Diet in Captivity
In captivity, Patagonian maras may be maintained on commercially produced rodent or primate diets. Zoos often provide a variety of vegetables and hay.
Example Diet
One example of a captive diet includes sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and other vegetables. These ingredients are combined and steamed or boiled until tender, then mixed with cooked corn. This mixture can be formed into a "crust" to hold additional filling.
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Conservation Status and Threats
Patagonian maras are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. Historically, they ranged from north-central Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego, but hunting and habitat alteration have greatly affected their populations, leading to extirpation in some areas, including Buenos Aires Province.
Major Threats
The South American lowlands, where maras reside, are rapidly declining. Habitat loss and hunting are the two greatest threats to Patagonian maras. Competition with sheep farming for resources and hunting for their skins also contribute to their decline.
Adaptations for Survival
The Patagonian mara has several adaptations that allow it to thrive in its environment:
- Cursorial Lifestyle: Long legs, reduced clavicle, and well-developed sensory organs enable running and communicating in open habitats.
- Predator Response: A predator response system similar to that of ungulates, allowing for early detection of predators and quick escape.
- Dietary Flexibility: Ability to adjust diet based on available resources in different ecosystems.
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