The Family Ctenomyidae comprises the tuco-tucos, a group of burrowing rodents native to South America. These mammals are adapted for a subterranean lifestyle, with strong forelimbs and claws for digging, cylindrical bodies, and short tails. Tuco-tucos are primarily herbivorous, feeding on roots, bulbs, and underground plant parts. They are mostly solitary and territorial, using extensive burrow systems for shelter and protection from predators. Ctenomyids play an important ecological role by aerating soil and influencing plant community dynamics through their burrowing and foraging activities.