Tuco-tuco

The tuco-tuco is a rodent that lives in South America.

It spends most of its time digging a complex tunnels system,

At night, it emerges to eat. Its diet mostly consists of grasses, shrubs, herbs and roots.

The tuco-tuco is gets its name from the sound that it makes. It is claimed that the tuco-tuco's call can be heard above ground for long distances.

Tuco-tucos range from about 6 to 10 inches long, and weight up to about 25 ounces.

They are fossorial animals - their bodies are adapted for burrowing. They have small eyes and ears, legs that are short and muscular, and strong claws.

They resemble the pocket gophers of North America.