The moon-toothed degu (''Octodon lunatus'') is a species of
rodent in the family
Octodontidae.
It is
endemic to
Chile, occurring in mountainous areas along the Pacific coast in the central part of the country.
Biology and physiology
Unlike its close relative the
common degu, the moon-toothed degu is
nocturnal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...
(active at night).
The
ventral fur of this species has been found to be much less reflective of
UV light than other
octodontids,
most likely as a result of its nocturnal habits.
The moon-toothed degu has deep molar indentations but lacks a fold on the inside of the last molar.
Habitat
The species is less widely distributed in
Chile than the common degu and inhabits dense scrubland near the coast.
[ Habitat ranges from sea level to 1,200 m in the Andes.][
]
References
External links
*
Octodon
Mammals of Chile
Mammals described in 1943
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Endemic fauna of Chile
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