{{Short description|Genus of rodents}} {{automatic taxobox | image = Mara 1.jpg | image_caption = A male Patagonian mara | taxon = Dolichotis | authority = Desmarest, 1820 | type_species = ''Cavia patachonica'' | type_species_authority = Shaw, 1801<br />(= ''Cavia patagonum'' Zimmermann, 1780) | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = * ''D. patagonum'', Patagonian mara * ''D. salinicola'', Chacoan mara * †''D. intermedia'' {{small|Ameghino 1889}} * †''D. platycephala'' {{small|Ameghino 1889}} }}
'''''Dolichotis''''' is a genus of the cavy family of rodents.<ref name = MSW3>{{MSW3 Hystricognathi | id = 13400210 | page = 1555}}</ref> 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 {{Convert|45|cm|in|abbr=on}} 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''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Campo |first1=D.H. |title=Integrative taxonomy of extant maras supports the recognition of the genera Pediolagus and Dolichotis within the Dolichotinae (Rodentia, Caviidae) |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |date=2020 |volume=101 |issue=3 |pages=817–834 |doi=10.1093/jmammal/gyaa038 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/101/3/817/5836015|doi-access=free |url-access=subscription |hdl=11336/134944 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
== Etymology == ''Dolichotis'' means "long-eared", from Ancient Greek "δολιχός" (dolikhos) meaning "long" and "οὖς" (ous) meaning "ear".<ref>{{OED|Dolichotis}}</ref>
== Species == Two extant and two extinct species of in this genus are recognized: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Image !! Scientific name !! Common name !! Distribution |- | 120px || ''Dolichotis patagonum'' || Patagonian mara || Argentina |- | 120px || ''Dolichotis salinicola'' || Chacoan mara || Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia |}
;Fossil species * †''D. intermedia'' {{small|Ameghino, 1889}} * †''D. platycephala'' {{small|Ameghino, 1889}}
Fossils are known from Argentina:<ref name=FWMara>{{Cite web|work=Fossilworks | title= ''Dolichotis'' Desmarest 1820 |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=42115|access-date=2022-12-29}}</ref> * Montehermosan ** Andalhuala Formation * Huayquerian ** Chiquimil Formation * Chapadmalalan ** Barranca de los Lobos Formation ** San Andrés Formation * Ensenadan ** Vorohué Formation ** Yupoí Formation * Lujanian ** Luján Formation
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed" heights="180"> File:Patagonian Cavy.jpg|Patagonian mara at the Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio, Texas File:Patagonian Cavies, Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne.jpg|A pair of Patagonian maras at the Melbourne Zoo File:Dolichotis patagonum closeup.jpg|Close-up of a Patagonian mara File:A mara at tropical wings.JPG|Mara at Tropical Wings </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Caviidae nav}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q838738}}
Category:Cavies Category:Extant Miocene first appearances Category:Articles containing video clips Category:Rodent genera Category:Taxa named by Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest Category:Mammal genera with one living species