Reddish tuco-tuco

{{Short description|Species of rodent}}

{{Merge from|Budin's tuco-tuco|discuss=Talk:Reddish tuco-tuco#Proposed merge of Budin's tuco-tuco into Reddish tuco-tuco|date=April 2025}}

{{speciesbox

| name = Reddish tuco-tuco

| image =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Vivar, E. |year=2017|title= Ctenomys frater |errata= 2018 |page= e.T115553730A123796865 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T115553730A115553734.en|access-date = 26 December 2019}}

| genus = Ctenomys

| species = frater

| authority = Thomas, 1902

| synonyms =

| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies

| subdivision =

C.f. barbarous

C.f. budini (Thomas, 1913)

C. f. frater Thomas, 1902

C. f. mordosus (Thomas, 1926)

C.f. sylvanus (Thomas, 1919)

}}

The reddish tuco-tuco (Ctenomys frater) is a species of rodent in the family Ctenomyidae.{{MSW3 Hystricognathi | id = 13400302 | page = }} Five subspecies have been recognized, some formerly designated as separate species.{{cite book|author1=R. A. Mittermeier|author2=T. Llobet|author3=T. E. Lacher|title=Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Rodents II|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=czeGwwEACAAJ|year=2017|publisher=Lynx|isbn=978-84-16728-04-6}} It is found in Argentina and Bolivia at altitudes from {{cvt|600|to|4500|m|-1}}. This tuco-tuco is fossorial, like others in its genus. Its diet consists of underground tubers and roots. Its karyotype has 2n = 52 and FN = 78.{{cite journal |last1= Cook|first1= J. A.|last2= Anderson|first2= S. A.|last3= Yates|first3= T. L.|title= Notes on Bolivian mammals 6. The genus Ctenomys (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae) in the highlands|journal= American Museum Novitates|issue= 2980|pages= 1–27|date= 1990|hdl= 2246/5062}}

It lives in colonies in areas with suitably soft, dry soil. Both undisturbed and disturbed areas provide suitable habitat. Its conservation status is assessed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. Some authors consider it to be a synonym of Ctenomys budini.{{Cite web |title=Ctenomys budini Thomas, 1913 |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/4263398 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=www.gbif.org |language=en}}