What does vizcacha mean?
Vizcacha is the name of several distinctive rodents native to the mountainous regions of South America. These animals belong to the genus Lagidium and the family Chinchillidae, the same family as chinchillas, and their compact bodies, rounded ears, and long tails give them a broadly similar appearance. The best-known member of the group is the southern mountain viscacha, a social animal that commonly lives in colonies among rocky Andean slopes. The term is primarily used in zoology, wildlife literature, and descriptions of animals in captivity rather than as a general word for small rodents. A vizcacha should not be confused with the viscacha rat, which has a similar name but belongs to a separate rodent family. The English word is borrowed from Spanish vizcacha, with the alternative spelling viscacha also in established use.
nounAny of several rodents of the genus Lagidium in the chinchilla family, Chinchillidae. Vizcachas are native to mountainous regions of South America and generally resemble chinchillas.
- A rodent of the genus Lagidium, native to mountainous parts of South America and closely resembling a chinchilla.
"A family of vizcachas gathered on the rocky slope above the valley."
"We watched a colony of mountain vizcachas feeding among the rocks."
"The wildlife guide explained that the zoo's pair of vizcachas were mountain-dwelling rodents from South America."
The regular plural is used when more than one animal is meant.
"Several vizcachas were resting on the rocks near the ridge."
A vizcacha is a chinchilla look-alike from the Andes, but the “viscacha rat,” despite its name, belongs to a different rodent family.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vizcacha
The English word vizcacha comes from Spanish vizcacha. The Spanish term was adopted from an Indigenous Andean source, generally identified with Quechua, and was established in South American zoological usage before being borrowed into English.
How vizcacha is actually used
The word is chiefly used in zoological, wildlife, and natural-history contexts. It is also spelled “viscacha,” and the two spellings refer to the same zoological term.
Easily confused with vizcacha
A vizcacha is a rodent of the genus Lagidium, whereas chinchillas belong to the genus Chinchilla, although both are members of Chinchillidae.
A viscacha rat belongs to the rodent family Octodontidae and is not a vizcacha, which is a chinchillid.