Feeding behaviour of Tympanoctomys barrerae, a rodent specialized in consuming Atriplex leaves

Tympanoctomys barrerae is a monotypic octodontid. This species is endemic to the desert area of central-western Argentina where it is restricted to salt basins and sand dunes. T. barrerae shaves off the epidermis ofAtriplex leaves before consuming them. This reduces electrolyte intake. Like two other unrelated salt-flat dwelling rodents, Dipodomys microps and Psammomys obesus, T. barrerae uses the lower incisors to scrape the hypersaline tissue away from Atriplex leaves, only it spends less time in the shaving process. This difference could be accounted for by a peculiar anatomical structure: two bundles of stiff hairs on either side of the mouth that may be functionally similar to a second set of lower incisors.