| Golden Vizcacha Rat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Range | Catamarca Province of northwestern Argentina. |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Octodontidae |
| Genus | Pipanacoctomys |
| Species | Pipanacoctomys aureus |
| Conservation Status | |
 Critically Endangered | |
The Golden vizcacha rat (Pipanacoctomys aureus), is a new species of octodontid in the Octodontidae family. It is the only member of the Pipanacoctomys genus. This animal is tetraploid and has 4x = 2n = 92 chromosomes. This species and its sister-species the Plains viscacha rat (Tympanoctomys barrerae) (4x = 102) appear to have arisen from the diploid Viscacha rat (Octomys mimax) (2x = 2n = 56) as a result of doubling and then loss of some chromosomes.
The species is known from Catamarca Province of northwestern Argentina, where specimens are known only from the Salar de Pipanaco, a salt flat. It feeds on halophyte plants. The genus is named after the locale, with “octo” being a reference to the figure-eight ridge on its cheek tooth.
It is threatened by conversion of its very restricted habitat to agricultural use.