Viscacha (vis-ka-cha)

Basic Information

Dietary Needs and Habits

Grasses

Shade, blue, feather and tall grasses are some of the grasses viscachas commonly consume.

Herbs

Viscachas may occasionally consume certain medicinal herbs, wildflowers and herbaceous shrubs.

Coprophagy

Fibrous plants pass through a second round of digestion to absorb any missed nutrients.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Viscachas occupy large burrows within their social group. Males will come and go between groups for one-year residencies, while the females form loyal forager bands, happily groom one another; and no obvious hierarchy.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Meat

In spite of its status as a pest, viscacha meat is considered a delicacy. Similar to cuya or rabbit, it is earthy; and quite oily, like duck meat.
For most families, this is an opportunistic meal. Whenever one happens to be caught in a trap, the farmers must opt to eat it as a rare source of meat.

Facial characteristics

Black and gray facial markings encircle the mouth area like a beard covered by a mask.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Southern Silver Mountains

Scrubby landscapes home to brown viscachas that persist on terrace farms

Central Silver
Basin

A lowland desert plain where grey viscachas build underground complexes

Northern Silver Mountains

Rocky outcroppings hide reddish viscachas in between their cracks

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Viscachas are hunted by humans for their fur and meat. They are a resilient species that can strip a farmer's yield and pass along fleas and ticks, if the population is not occasionally culled.
Viscachas are such pests that certain rebel elements have tried to release them on large estates with the aim of triggering an artificial famine. Though little children might innocently keep them as pets, it is technically illegal to breed them as such, for this very reason.

Lifespan

3 years in the Wild

19 years in Captivity

Average Height

1 ft

Average Weight

7 lbs

Average Length

2 ft

Average Physique

Long busy tails

Short front feet

Long and strong hind feet

Long fuzzy ears

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dorsally Gray or Creamy Brown and Ventrally Yellowish or Pale Gray to White

Related Ethnicities

• Dhani
• Duskies