At first glance, you might think you’ve spotted a rabbit on stilts. However, this long-legged creature is not a rabbit at all — it’s a Patagonian mara, one of the largest rodents in the world. With a body shaped like a small deer and a head resembling a hare, the Patagonian mara is native to Argentina, where it inhabits open grasslands and scrubby plains, particularly in the central and southern regions.

The Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) belongs to the rodent family Caviidae, making it a close relative of guinea pigs and capybaras. It’s often listed as the fourth-largest rodent in the world. On average, a mara measures about 70 cm (27 inches) in length, weighs between 8 and 16 kg (18–35 lbs), and has a short, nearly invisible tail. Early naturalists were struck by its rabbit-like appearance, and even Charles Darwin referred to it as the “Patagonian hare.” But don’t be fooled—rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents. While maras and rabbits evolved to look alike through a process called convergent evolution, the mara is firmly rooted in the rodent branch of the mammal family tree.

Its coat is a mix of grayish-brown and white, offering excellent camouflage in dry grasslands. A white rump patch, bordered by a black stripe, gives it a look somewhat similar to a jackrabbit. It also has large, upright ears that help it detect predators and may assist with regulating body temperature in the sunny Patagonian climate.