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For TOUCADOO - Dolichotis Patagonicum


For TOUCADOO - Dolichotis Patagonicum
Photo Information
Copyright: Radu Xplorator (Xplorator) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 724 W: 58 N: 1540] (7604)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-11
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon CP 8800
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-12-08 3:29
Viewed: 1041
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dedicated to my good friend Paul TOUCADOO, a tireless
pursuer of the rare and unusual fauna, me brother in
arms.

Patagonian CAVY or MARA (Dolichotis
patagonum) discovered or at least classified first by
Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann (1743 – 1815) an amazing German geographer and zoologist. Also, Zimmermann was Professor of Natural Science at Brunswick. He wrote Specimen Zoologiae
Geographicae Quadrupedum (1777), one of the first
works on the geographical distribution of mammals.
But now lets hear more about the PATAGONIAN CAVY or MARA:
The Maras resemble hares in having large ears and eyes, a blunt muzzle, and long, slender legs hence their other Spanish name "liebre patagonico" or Patagonian hare.
They are larger than the other cavies, weighing 9 to
16 kg (20 to 35 pounds) with a body 45 to 75 cm long
and a tiny tail of up to 5 cm. Their front claws are
sharp, but those on the hind feet are hoof like; the
dense fur is gray with whitish under parts and has a
crisp texture.
An American or Euro-centric zoological enthusiast
like me would place this animal as one third guinea
pig, one third rabbit and one third kangaroo. Cavy
numbers however are declining throughout their range.
The main causes of this decline are habitat
destruction and competition with the introduced
European hare (Lepus capensis). Cavies are easily
maintained in captivity and readily breed.
The only specie they share their Dolichotis genus is a
less larger specie of Mara , hence their apanish name
"mara chico" or better known as the Chacoan Mara
(Dolichotis salinicola), living also in Argentina but
a bit more up north, also in Paraguay, more within the
neo-tropical climate.



Radu Xplorator

Sources: University of Michigan, Wikipedia
Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Britannica
manyee, Luc, wallhalla15, sandpiper2, scottevers7, petrudamsa, Dave, liquidsunshine, thistle has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To manyee: KangarabbitbaraXplorator 2 12-10 02:09
To scottevers7: ReXplorator 1 12-08 15:01
To Dave: :)Xplorator 1 12-08 15:00
To petrudamsa: De(z)gustareXplorator 2 12-08 14:58
To thistle: BlurXplorator 1 12-08 14:50
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Critiques [Translate]

What a strange creature, Radu. When I first saw the picture, "capybara" came to my mind. Are they closely related?
I think you hit the nail on the head when you described it as one third guinea pig, one third rabbit, and one third kangaroo. That is exactly what it looks like to me too.
Thanks for introducing me to a new species. : )

Hello Radu, this is a very interesting animal.
Pose is excellent, great work. Very good sharpness, details, colours and composition. Thanks for sharing.

Big Nose :-))) It's his new name :-)
Great picture of your friend - in very nice pose with a nose on the first plan!

Crazy looking mammal. In this pose it looks quite like a kangaroo relaxing.
Great sharpness and I like the composition.

Hi Radu,
What a unique and interesting subject! Excellent colors and detail. Nice relaxed pose. Your notes are superb. Thanks for the great post.
Scott

Hi man,

o intrebare pe care-am uitat sa ti-o pun: astia sunt edibili? Stiu ca sunt protejati, dar bastinasii ii mananca? (de ex: escalop de Mara cu ciuperci)

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 517 W: 47 N: 663] (2127)
  • [2005-12-08 10:28]
  • [+]

Interesting animal Radu!
Good picture!
Thanks for sharing,
Dave

Excellent capture Radu,
Good sharp detail and colours. Great POV.
Nicely composed and good exposure. The pose of the Mara is great, and nicely relaxed.
Thanks for posting. Enjoy the rest of the week.

Superb shot Radu!
Mara helped you a lot posing so nicely. It looks very relaxed and natural. Again I have feeling you blurred the edges and no matter if you did it or not, it looks great and makes the photo nicely soft.
I like it very much :)

I cant believe I missed this one. This is a great shot! I love it. They are so weird looking, I've got photos of these strange looking beast as well and to see them in person is quite the treat. Thanks for Image. Peace be with you my brother. :)

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