Mara (mammal)

Maras are a unique group of large rodents within the family Caviidae. This family includes more common animals like guinea pigs. Maras belong to the subfamily Dolichotinae. They are primarily found in South America. Many live in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina. Others inhabit Paraguay and different surrounding regions.

These animals are fascinating because they look very different from typical rodents.

The physical appearance of a mara is quite distinctive. They have stocky bodies and long legs. This body shape often makes them look like rabbits. When they stand upright, they can resemble a small ungulate. An ungulate is a hoofed mammal like a deer or a horse. Their feet are also specialized for movement. They have four digits on their fore feet. Their hind feet have only three sharp-clawed digits.

There are two living species of mara today. The first is the Patagonian mara. This species is quite large for a rodent. Adult males average 6.5 kilograms. Adult females average 5.5 kilograms. Some individuals can weigh over 7 kilograms. The second species is the Chacoan mara. This species is much smaller than its relative. It weighs approximately 4 kilograms. Most maras share a similar color pattern. They have brown heads and bodies. They also have white bellies and dark rumps. These dark rumps often have a white fringe at the base.

Maras use several different methods to move around. They can amble or gallop across the land. They can also hop in a fashion similar to a rabbit. Some maras move by bouncing on all four legs. They are very capable jumpers. A mara can leap up to 3 meters. The Patagonian mara is especially fast. It can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour.

The social lives of maras are very organized. They are animals that mate for life. They typically have between one and three offspring each year. Mara young are very well-developed at birth. They are able to start grazing on plants within 24 hours. To protect their young, they use a crèche system. A crèche is a communal nursery for offspring. In this system, one pair of adults watches over all the young in the group. This provides safety for the entire nursery.

Safety is a major priority for the mara family. They have a specific strategy to handle danger. If the adults spot a threat, the young rush into a burrow underground. The adults remain above ground to deal with the situation. They run to escape the danger themselves. This behavior helps keep the young hidden and safe.

Scientists have updated how they classify these animals. For a long time, both species were placed in the genus Dolichotis. However, a 2020 study changed this view. The American Society of Mammalogists conducted an investigation into the two species. They found significant differences between the Patagonian and Chacoan maras. Because of these findings, researchers resurrected the genus Pediolagus. This means the Chacoan mara now belongs to its own group. Several extinct genera of maras are also known to history.

Humans have had various interactions with maras. Some people keep them in zoos. Others keep them as pets. Because of this, they are sometimes called Patagonian cavies or Patagonian hares. Maras can be social with humans if they are raised with interaction from a young age. However, they usually avoid people in the wild. They may even change their daily habits to stay away from humans. They might switch from being active in the day to becoming nocturnal. Nocturnal means they are active at night. This change helps them avoid social interaction with people.