List of ctenomyids

Ctenomyidae is a family of fossorial mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the Caviomorpha parvorder. Members of this family are called ctenomyids or tuco-tucos. They are found in southern South America, primarily in shrublands and grasslands, though some species can be found in forests, savannas, deserts, wetlands, and coastal areas. They range in size from the white-toothed tuco-tuco, at 11 cm (4 in) plus a 7 cm (3 in) tail, to Conover's tuco-tuco, at 33 cm (13 in) plus a 11 cm (4 in) tail. Ctenomyids are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation.^[1] No ctenomyids have population estimates, but ten species are categorized as an endangered species, and three—Reig's tuco-tuco, Roig's tuco-tuco, and the social tuco-tuco—are categorized as critically endangered.

The 59 extant species of Ctenomyidae are all contained in a single genus, Ctenomys. A few extinct prehistoric ctenomyid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed.^[2]

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the ctenomyid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Ctenomyidae is a family consisting of 59 species in a single genus, Ctenomys.

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.^[3]

Genus Ctenomys – Blainville, 1826 – 59 species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Argentine tuco-tuco	C. argentinus Berry & Contreras, 1982	Northern Argentina	Size: 17–18 cm (7 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[5]	NT  Unknown [5]
Azara's tuco-tuco	C. azarae Thomas, 1903	Central Argentina	Size: 16–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Shrubland[7]	EN  Unknown [7]
Berg's tuco-tuco	C. bergi Thomas, 1902	Central Argentina	Size: 13–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus about 7 cm (3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Savanna and grassland[9]	EN  Unknown [9]
Bolivian tuco-tuco	C. boliviensis Waterhouse, 1848 Two subspecies C. b. boliviensis C. b. nattereri	Bolivia and western Brazil	Size: 18–28 cm (7–11 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail[10] Habitat: Savanna[11]	LC  Unknown [11]
Bonetto's tuco-tuco	C. bonettoi Berry & Contreras, 1982	Northern Argentina	Size: 17–19 cm (7 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Shrubland[12]	EN  Unknown [12]
Brazilian tuco-tuco	C. brasiliensis Blainville, 1826	Uruguay	Size: Unknown[6] Habitat: Unknown[13]	DD  Unknown [13]
Catamarca tuco-tuco	C. knighti Thomas, 1919	Northern Argentina	Size: About 20 cm (8 in) long, plus about 8 cm (3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Grassland[14]	DD  Unknown [14]
Chacoan tuco-tuco	C. dorsalis Thomas, 1900	Paraguay and Bolivia	Size: About 16 cm (6 in) long, plus about 5 cm (2 in) tail[15] Habitat: Savanna[16]	DD  Unknown [16]
Colburn's tuco-tuco	C. colburni Allen, 1903	Southern Argentina	Size: Unknown[4] Habitat: Grassland[17]	DD  Unknown [17]
Collared tuco-tuco	C. torquatus Lichtenstein, 1830	Uruguay and southern Brazil	Size: 15–23 cm (6–9 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[15] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[18]	LC  Unknown [18]
Conover's tuco-tuco	C. conoveri Osgood, 1946	Paraguay and Bolivia	Size: 24–33 cm (9–13 in) long, plus 9–14 cm (4–6 in) tail[19] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[20]	LC  Unknown [20]
Coyhaique tuco-tuco	C. coyhaiquensis Kelt & Gallardo, 1994	Southern Argentina and southern Chile	Size: Unknown length, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Shrubland[21]	DD  Unknown [21]
D'Orbigny's tuco-tuco	C. dorbignyi Contreras & Contreras, 1984	Northern Argentina	Size: 19–22 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 8–10 cm (3–4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[22]	NT  Unknown [22]
Emily's tuco-tuco	C. emilianus St. Leger, 1926	Western Argentina	Size: About 21 cm (8 in) long, plus about 9 cm (4 in) tail[10] Habitat: Desert[23]	LC  Unknown [23]
Famatina tuco-tuco	C. famosus Thomas, 1920	Northwestern Argentina	Size: About 16 cm (6 in) long, plus about 7 cm (3 in) tail[15] Habitat: Unknown[24]	DD  Unknown [24]
Flamarion's tuco-tuco	C. flamarioni Travi, 1981	Uruguay and southern Brazil	Size: About 25 cm (10 in) long, plus about 7 cm (3 in) tail[6] Habitat: Coastal marine[25]	EN  Unknown [25]
Foch's tuco-tuco	C. fochi Thomas, 1919	Northern Argentina	Size: About 16 cm (6 in) long, plus about 8 cm (3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Unknown[26]	DD  Unknown [26]
Furtive tuco-tuco	C. occultus Thomas, 1920	Northern Argentina	Size: 13–16 cm (5–6 in) long, plus tail[4] Habitat: Unknown[27]	EN  Unknown [27]
Goodfellow's tuco-tuco	C. goodfellowi Thomas, 1921	Bolivia	Size: 18–28 cm (7–11 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail[10] Habitat: Forest[28]	LC  Unknown [28]
Goya tuco-tuco	C. perrensi Thomas, 1898	Northeastern Argentina	Size: About 20 cm (8 in) long, plus about 7 cm (3 in) tail[6] Habitat: Unknown[29]	LC  Unknown [29]
Haig's tuco-tuco	C. haigi Thomas, 1917 Two subspecies C. h. haigi C. h. lentulus	Western Argentina	Size: 17–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 8–9 cm (3–4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and inland wetlands[30]	LC  Unknown [30]
Highland tuco-tuco	C. opimus Wagner, 1848 Three subspecies C. o. luteolus C. o. nigriceps C. o. opimus	Bolivia and northwestern Argentina	Size: 19–25 cm (7–10 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail[15] Habitat: Grassland[31]	LC  Unknown [31]
Ibicui tuco-tuco	C. ibicui de Freitas, Fernandes, Fornel, Roratto, 2012	Southern Brazil	Size: About 16 cm (6 in) long, plus about 8 cm (3 in) tail[15] Habitat: Grassland[32]	NT  Unknown [32]
Jujuy tuco-tuco	C. juris Thomas, 1920	Northern Argentina	Size: About 18 cm (7 in) long, plus about 7 cm (3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Unknown[33]	DD  Unknown [33]
Lago Blanco tuco-tuco	C. fodax Thomas, 1910	Southern Argentina and southern Chile	Size: About 26 cm (10 in) long, plus about 10 cm (4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Grassland[34]	DD  Unknown [34]
Lami tuco-tuco	C. lami Freitas, 2001	Southern Brazil	Size: 16–22 cm (6–9 in) long, plus 6–10 cm (2–4 in) tail[15] Habitat: Coastal marine[35]	VU  Unknown [35]
Lewis's tuco-tuco	C. lewisi Thomas, 1926	Southern Bolivia	Size: 20–22 cm (8–9 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[4] Habitat: Grassland[36]	LC  Unknown [36]
Magellanic tuco-tuco	C. magellanicus Bennett, 1836 Four subspecies C. m. dicki C. m. fueginus C. m. magellanicus C. m. osgoodi	Southern Argentina and southern Chile	Size: Unknown[4] Habitat: Grassland[37]	LC  Unknown [37]
Maule tuco-tuco	C. maulinus Philippi, 1872 Two subspecies C. m. brunneus C. m. maulinus	Central Chile	Size: Unknown[6] Habitat: Grassland[38]	LC  Unknown [38]
Mendoza tuco-tuco	C. mendocinus Philippi, 1869	Central Argentina	Size: 16–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[39]	LC  Unknown [39]
Mottled tuco-tuco	C. latro Thomas, 1918	Northern Argentina	Size: 16–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus tail[4] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[40]	EN  Unknown [40]
Pearson's tuco-tuco	C. pearsoni Lessa & Langguth, 1983	Southern Uruguay	Size: 17–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, and coastal marine[41]	NT  Unknown [41]
Peruvian tuco-tuco	C. peruanus Sanborn & Pearson, 1947	Southern Peru	Size: About 22 cm (9 in) long, plus about 9 cm (4 in) tail[8] Habitat: Grassland[42]	LC  Unknown [42]
Pilar tuco-tuco	C. pilarensis Contreras, 1993	Northern Argentina and Paraguay	Size: 16–21 cm (6–8 in) long, plus tail[4] Habitat: Grassland[43]	EN  Unknown [43]
Porteous's tuco-tuco	C. porteousi Thomas, 1916	Central Argentina	Size: 16–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Grassland[44]	NT  Unknown [44]
Pundt's tuco-tuco	C. pundti Nehring, 1900	Central Argentina	Size: About 17 cm (7 in) long, plus about 4 cm (2 in) tail[6] Habitat: Grassland[45]	EN  Unknown [45]
Puntilla tuco-tuco	C. coludo Thomas, 1920	Northwestern Argentina	Size: About 20 cm (8 in) long, plus about 10 cm (4 in) tail[15] Habitat: Unknown[46]	DD  Unknown [46]
Reddish tuco-tuco	C. frater Thomas, 1902 Two subspecies C. f. frater C. f. mordosus	Bolivia and northern Argentina	Size: 17–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Grassland[47]	LC  Unknown [47]
Reig's tuco-tuco	C. osvaldoreigi Contreras, 1995	Central Argentina	Size: 23–25 cm (9–10 in) long, plus tail[8] Habitat: Grassland[48]	CR  Unknown [48]
Rio Negro tuco-tuco	C. rionegrensis Langguth & Abella, 1970	Eastern Argentina and Uruguay	Size: 16–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Desert and coastal marine[49]	EN  Unknown [49]
Robust tuco-tuco	C. tuconax Thomas, 1925	Northern Argentina	Size: Unknown[10] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[50]	DD  Unknown [50]
Roig's tuco-tuco	C. roigi Contreras, 1988	Northern Argentina	Size: 17–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Grassland, inland wetlands, and other[51]	CR  Unknown [51]
Salta tuco-tuco	C. saltarius Thomas, 1912	Northern Argentina	Size: About 20 cm (8 in) long, plus about 9 cm (4 in) tail[15] Habitat: Desert[52]	DD  Unknown [52]
San Juan tuco-tuco	C. johannis Thomas, 1921	Western Argentina	Size: About 20 cm (8 in) long, plus about 10 cm (4 in) tail[15] Habitat: Unknown[53]	DD  Unknown [53]
San Luis tuco-tuco	C. pontifex Thomas, 1918	Central Argentina and central Chile	Size: About 18 cm (7 in) long, plus about 8 cm (3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Unknown[54]	DD  Unknown [54]
Scaglia's tuco-tuco	C. scagliai Contreras, 1999	Northern Argentina	Size: About 20 cm (8 in) long, plus about 9 cm (4 in) tail[15] Habitat: Unknown[55]	DD  Unknown [55]
Sierra Tontal tuco-tuco	C. tulduco Thomas, 1921	Western Argentina	Size: About 19 cm (7 in) long, plus about 7 cm (3 in) tail[15] Habitat: Unknown[56]	DD  Unknown [56]
Silky tuco-tuco	C. sericeus Allen, 1903	Southern Argentina and southern Chile	Size: Unknown length, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest[57]	DD  Unknown [57]
Social tuco-tuco	C. sociabilis Pearson & Christie, 1985	Central Argentina and central Chile	Size: 16–25 cm (6–10 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[10] Habitat: Savanna and inland wetlands[58]	CR  Unknown [58]
Southern tuco-tuco	C. australis Rusconi, 1934	Eastern Argentina	Size: About 21 cm (8 in) long, plus 9–11 cm (4 in) tail[6] Habitat: Coastal marine[59]	EN  Unknown [59]
Steinbach's tuco-tuco	C. steinbachi Thomas, 1907	Bolivia	Size: 23–25 cm (9–10 in) long, plus tail[10] Habitat: Savanna[60]	LC  Unknown [60]
Strong tuco-tuco	C. validus Contreras, Roig, & Suzarte, 1977	Central Argentina	Size: Unknown[15] Habitat: Unknown[61]	DD  Unknown [61]
Talas tuco-tuco	C. talarum Thomas, 1898 Four subspecies C. t. antonii C. t. occidentalis C. t. recessus C. t. talarum	Central and eastern Argentina	Size: 15–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[6] Habitat: Grassland and coastal marine[62]	LC  Unknown [62]
Tawny tuco-tuco	C. fulvus Philippi, 1860 Two subspecies C. f. fulvus C. f. robustus	Western South America	Size: Unknown[15] Habitat: Forest and desert[63]	DD  Unknown [63]
Tiny tuco-tuco	C. minutus Nehring, 1887 Two subspecies C. m. bicolor C. m. minutus	Southern Brazil	Size: About 7 cm (3 in) long, plus tail[15] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[64]	DD  Unknown [64]
Tucuman tuco-tuco	C. tucumanus Thomas, 1900	Northern Argentina	Size: About 17 cm (7 in) long, plus about 7 cm (3 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest[65]	DD  Unknown [65]
Vipos tuco-tuco	C. viperinus Thomas, 1926	Northern Argentina	Size: About 21 cm (8 in) long, plus about 8 cm (3 in) tail[8] Habitat: Unknown[66]	DD  Unknown [66]
White-toothed tuco-tuco	C. leucodon Waterhouse, 1848	Western Bolivia and southern Peru	Size: 11–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[67]	LC  Unknown [67]
Yolanda's tuco-tuco	C. yolandae Contreras & Berry, 1984	Northern Argentina	Size: Unknown[8] Habitat: Unknown[68]	DD  Unknown [68]