High in the Andes mountains and rocky crags of South America lives an adorable rodent who constantly looks tired and a little sad.
With his long ears and powerful hind legs, the southern viscacha, also called a mountain viscacha, resembles an incredibly fluffy rabbit or chinchilla, but he’s actually closer to a giant mouse.
The viscacha sits up on his haunches, sunbathing, with droopy corners of his lips and closed eyelids, as though he’s in desperate need of a sleep.
Southern viscachas have recently gone viral on Twitter for their bored, sleepy expressions — which, as some people have pointed out, makes them the perfect pandemic mascot or “spirit animal.”
ARCHIPLAIN Viscacha: The New Spirit Animal Of People During Pandemic https://t.co/267WIqVjBi #free #plan #apartment pic.twitter.com/g2vGO0e8wg
— IMMOINFRANCE (@immoinfrance) March 21, 2021
Only by looking at the viscacha’s long, fluffy tail can you tell what kind of mood he’s really in — an extended tail signals anxiety or distress, and a curled tail shows relaxation.
Viscachas spend most of their time sunning themselves on rocks and boulders, resting and grooming their thick coats. These large rodents are almost perfectly round and can weigh over 6 pounds and grow to be between 12 and 18 inches long.
While the viscacha’s short front paws aren’t ideal for digging, his speed and superior climbing skills more than compensate. These gregarious animals, who live in enormous colonies, have a large vocabulary of sounds and whistles that they use to warn each other when a predator approaches, allowing them to scurry into their tunnels between the rocks.
But don’t be fooled by the viscacha’s expression — this chill animal is actually quite happy. Perhaps we can all learn a little something from the viscacha’s relaxed attitude, making him quite a good mascot indeed.
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