Dolichotis fossil map
Where fossils of Dolichotis have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 8 million years ago to the present (Tortonian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Caviidae |
| Named by | Desmarest 1820 |
| Fossil records | 38 occurrences at 17 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Uruguay |
| Rock formations | txn:42108, Lujan, San Andres, Chiquimil, Yupoi, Vorohué |
About Dolichotis
Dolichotis is a genus of the cavy family of rodents. These large relatives of guinea pigs are common in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina, but also live in Paraguay and elsewhere in South America. It contains a single extant species, the Patagonian mara, which is one of the largest rodents in the world after the two species each of capybaras and beavers, and the large species of porcupines, reaching about 45 cm (18 in) in height.
The Chacoan mara has and sometimes still is also considered a member of this genus. However, a 2020 study by the American Society of Mammalogists found significant difference between the two mara species to warrant placing it in the genus Pediolagus.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Dolichotis (revision 1366037266), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q838738.
