The mara is a distinctive South American rodent, often mistaken for a rabbit or small deer. It possesses a unique blend of physical features and behaviors that set it apart in the diverse ecosystems it inhabits. This article explores the mara’s physical characteristics, daily routines, and social dynamics, highlighting its adaptations that allow it to thrive in challenging environments.
Unveiling the Mara: Identification and Appearance
Maras are large rodents belonging to the family Caviidae, which also includes guinea pigs and capybaras. The two main species are the Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) and the Chacoan mara (Dolichotis salinicola). Both share characteristic features, though the Patagonian mara is larger.
The Patagonian mara measures 69 to 75 centimeters (27 to 30 inches) long and weighs 8 to 16 kilograms (18 to 35 pounds). Its body is robust, with a grayish-brown coat, orange coloration around the flanks and head, and a white patch on the rump. Its legs are notably long and slender, particularly the hind limbs, which are more muscular and longer than its forelimbs, contributing to a somewhat hoof-like foot structure. They possess prominent, upright ears and a short, hairless tail.
The Chacoan mara is smaller, weighing 1.8 to 2.3 kilograms (4 to 5 pounds) and measuring 42 to 48.5 centimeters (16.5 to 19 inches). Its fur is brownish-gray to darker gray, often speckled, with lighter sides and a white neck and abdomen. Like its Patagonian relative, it has long, thin legs and moderately large ears, giving it a hare-like appearance.
Both mara species are native to South America. The Patagonian mara inhabits arid grasslands and scrublands across central and southern Argentina. The Chacoan mara is found further north in the dry thorny forests and grasslands of the South American Chaco, spanning parts of Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. They prefer open or semi-open habitats where their cursorial adaptations are beneficial.
Life of a Mara: Behavior and Ecology
Maras are diurnal animals, meaning they are active during the daytime, typically spending their hours foraging for food or basking in the sun. These rodents are herbivores, with their diet consisting mainly of grasses, supplemented by herbs, leaves, and sometimes fruits, seeds, and cacti. They are selective grazers, often consuming the tender tips of grass blades, which necessitates constant movement to find new patches of vegetation. In dry periods, they adapt their diet to include moisture-rich plants like cacti.
Their social structure involves monogamous pairs that often mate for life. While pairs typically forage alone, they frequently gather in large communal dens, sometimes shared by up to 29 pairs. This communal denning behavior is particularly notable for raising young, as multiple pairs will use the same burrow system. Females give birth to one to three young, which are precocial, meaning they are born well-developed with open eyes and the ability to run shortly after birth.
Males play a role in vigilance, often standing guard while females feed or care for offspring. Maras communicate through various vocalizations, including “wheets” when seeking contact and low grunts when threatened. Communal burrows provide a protected nursery environment. Their long, powerful legs enable them to run swiftly, reaching speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour (28 miles per hour), assisting in evading predators such as felids, foxes, and birds of prey. They may also employ a unique bounding gait called stotting to signal their fitness to potential threats.
Mara vs. Look-Alikes: Unique Traits
Maras are sometimes confused with rabbits or hares due to their long ears and hopping locomotion, but they are distinctly different. Despite superficial similarities, maras are rodents, belonging to the same family as guinea pigs, not lagomorphs like rabbits. A key distinguishing feature is their limb structure; maras possess long, slender legs with three digits on their hind feet and four on their front feet, with compressed, hoof-like nails rather than claws. Rabbits, by contrast, have different foot anatomy and a generally more crouched posture.
Unlike most guinea pigs, which typically have short legs and rounded bodies, maras are built for running across open plains. Their cursorial adaptations, including their long legs and the ability to run at high speeds, are more akin to small ungulates than other rodents. Another difference lies in their social organization: while rabbits are known for their colonial warren systems, maras exhibit a unique combination of lifelong monogamy and communal denning for offspring, which is uncommon among mammals. Their territorial behavior also differs, with male maras aggressively protecting their mates, effectively creating a “mobile territory” as the pair moves. This combination of specialized physical attributes and specific social behaviors highlights the mara’s distinct identity within the animal kingdom.