(Patagonian) Mara Dolichotis patagonum
The Mara of the plains of central/southern Argentina looks a little like a cross between a
Rabbit and a Great Dane, with Deer or Kangaroo added, but is in fact a rodent related to the Guinea Pig.
It is sometimes called the Patagonian Mara to distinguish it from the similar Chacoan Mara of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.
Male and female have similar appearance, with grey fur on the back and sides, white underside bordered
with pinky brown, brown cheeks and chest. Between rump and thigh is a white stripe separating the grey rump from the brown
top thigh and connecting with white belly.
Maras live in family groups and are monogamous.
Summer coat.
Thicker, winter coat.
The huddle on a cold morning.
Maras mate for life and young are raised in a communal "creche" burrow, shown above right with young emerging.
