Suborder Hystricomorpha | Phylum Chordata Family Abrocomidae Rank Species | |
Similar Machu Picchu arboreal, Bolivian chinchilla rat, Abrocoma, Bennett's chinchilla rat, Ricinoides atewa | ||
The Asháninka arboreal chinchilla rat (Cuscomys ashaninka) is a large species of chinchilla rats from the Andes of far northern Cusco in Peru. It was first scientifically described in 1999. The animal has grey fur, with a white nose and lips, and a line of white fur running down its head. It is 30 cm (12 in) in length, with a tail of 20 cm (7.9 in).
When described, it was placed in the family Abrocomidae, but was considered different enough from existing species for the creation of the genus Cuscomys. Since then, the Machu Picchu arboreal chinchilla rat (Cuscomys oblativus), a species of chinchilla rats originally placed in the genus Abrocoma, has been shown to be a member of Cuscomys. Although it is considered extinct by the IUCN, photos of a rodent showing some similarities to C. ashaninka taken at Machu Picchu in late 2009 may show C. oblativus.
The first specimen of this species was discovered by Dr. Louise Emmons, a researcher of the Smithsonian Institution from Washington, D.C.. She found it by chance while climbing in the Vilcabamba Mountains near Machu Picchu.