New records of short-tailed Chinchilla populations, Chinchilla chinchilla, (Rodentia: Chinchillidae) from the Atacama Range, Chile.

Abstract

We present new records of short tailed chinchilla, Chinchilla chinchilla, (Rodentia: Chinchillidae) for the Atacama Region, near the site recorded by Valladares et al. (2012). Using camera trapping methodology we registered new populations of this specie between the sectors named Pantanillo, Cienaga Redonda and Santa Rosa lagoon on the high Andes of Atacama Region, Chile. The first record it was on March 12, 2010 at 01:15 A.M in a rocky area in front of Ciénaga Redonda. After that, we collect photos of this species in five other sites, with a total number of 55 photo captures. We collected scats in those areas that were analyzed with molecular genetic techniques. These are one of the few records of this species in Chile that it was considered as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.