Meet Viscacha: The perpetually sleepy, disappointed-looking creature that could be Gen Z's spirit animal

Imagine sitting in the warm sunlight on a cool winter morning 每 the feel, the calmness, the pure relaxation. That's how this animal is permanently seen: eyes closed, sunbathing, meditating, and looking so relaxed it seems like it＊s muttering mantras. Which animal saint is this, you wonder? Allow us to enlighten you.

Perfectly round faces & perpetually sleepy expressions

Viscachas always have a permanent bored, sleepy expression on their faces.

Looking like an incredibly fluffy rabbit or a giant mouse 每 whatever floats your boat 每 their cuteness is unmatched.

Viscacha/ X

Found high in the Andes mountains and rocky crags of South America, viscachas spend most of their time lounging on rocks and boulders, soaking up the sun, resting, and grooming their thick coats.

These large rodents are almost perfectly round, weighing over 6 pounds and growing to be between 12 and 18 inches long.

But don't be fooled by the viscacha's expression 每 this chill animal is actually quite happy.

Viscacha/ X

Perhaps we can all learn a little something from the viscacha's relaxed attitude, making it an excellent mascot for stress-free living.

Could they just be the perfect "spirit animal" for Gen Zs and millennials?!

What are Viscachas?

Viscachas are a type of rodent native to South America, specifically found in the Andes Mountains and parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

They belong to the family Chinchillidae and are closely related to chinchillas. There are two main types of viscachas: the mountain viscachas (genus Lagidium) and the plains viscachas (genus Lagostomus).

Viscacha/ X

The distinctive appearance and intriguing behavior of viscachas have captured the interest of both researchers and nature enthusiasts.

These animals are notable for their adaptability to different environments, with mountain viscachas thriving in rocky, high-altitude regions and plains viscachas living in the grasslands and open plains.

Their social behavior, vocalisations, and active lifestyles, especially during twilight hours, add to their appeal and make them a subject of fascination for many.

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