It's a rodent species endemic to Chile and unique in its genre. The shape of the Cucurro's body is cylindrical, with a small tail, ears, and eyes. Its paws have large claws, and its mouth has large incisor teeth. The color of its coat is black, with short smooth fur.
Lives in colonies of up to 15 individuals. It feeds from vegetable bulbs and its predated by birds and Lesser Grison. The subspecies Spalacopus cyanus poeppiggi is in danger of extinction.
Family: Octodontidae
Distribution: It exists in three sub-species: the Spalacopus cyanus cyanus, from Caldera (3rd Region) to Curicó (7th Region); the Spalacopus cyanus poeppiggi, in the Curicó mountain; and the Spalacopus cyanus mauiinus, on the coastal area of Ñuble (8th Region).
Habitat: Lives in savannas of loose earth of great vegetal cover, from the sea level to 3400 m. in altitude