CHARACTERIZATION AND SELECTION OF MICROHABITAT BY Microcavia australis (RODENTIA: CAVIIDAE): FIRST DATA IN A ROCKY HABITAT IN THE HYPERARID MONTE DESERT OF ARGENTINA

ANDINO, NATALIA; BORGHI CARLOS; GIANNONI STELLA

MAMMALIA

WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO

Año: 2016 vol. 80 p. 71 - 81

0025-1461

A rocky habitat, in its broadest sense, may be described as any locality that contains boulders, rocks, scree, pebbles, outcrops, cliffs, or caves. In these habitats, mammals find shelter sites that they use as nesting sites or dens to raise their young in a stable microclimate that is relatively secure from predators. The aim of this study was to characterize the habitat used by the Southern mountain cavy (Microcavia australis) in rock outcrops of the Monte desert of San Juan province, Argentina. The Southern mountain cavy occupied sites with high rock cover and low cover of vegetation and bare soil and used the crevices formed during a piping process. This rodent selected the highest and deepest crevices, which provided them with a more stable micro-environment than outside. The present study is the first to report a Southern mountain cavy population associated with a rocky habitat, suggesting a strong plasticity to inhabit a variety of habitats, as indicated by its wide distribution.