Meet the Plains Viscacha: A Rodent with a Unique Reproductive Strategy
In the vast plains of southern South America, a remarkable rodent has made its home – the Plains Viscacha. This stout cousin of the chinchilla is known for building complex underground tunnels and “cities” that can be home to up to 50 individuals.
These subterranean engineers spend most of their time in their vibrant, hierarchical world, where they live in organized colonies guided by a dominant male called the vizcachón. With its broad head, large eyes, and pointed ears, the Plains Viscacha is easily recognizable, thanks to its distinctive appearance and grayish fur.
But what’s truly remarkable about this rodent is its reproductive strategy. Female Plains Viscachas can release up to 326 eggs in a single cycle, making it the most prolific ovulator among mammals. This unique combination of spontaneous and induced ovulation ensures the fertilization of high-quality eggs.
The female viscacha’s reproductive cycle begins with a fall heat period, where males compete fiercely for mating opportunities. Sex takes place inside the burrow, and after a five-month gestation, females give birth to two young. With its complex social structure and remarkable reproductive abilities, the Plains Viscacha is an fascinating subject of study in the scientific community.
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Source: https://www.livescience.com/animals/land-mammals/plains-viscacha-a-rodent-that-builds-vast-underground-cities-and-ovulates-more-than-any-other-mammal