''Octodon'' is a genus of

octodontid Octodontidae is a family of rodents, restricted to southwestern South America. Fourteen species of octodontid are recognised, arranged in seven genera. The best known species is the common degu, ''Octodon degus''. Octodontids are medium-sized ...

rodents native to South America, in particular in the Chilean Andes. The best-known member is the common degu, ''O. degus'', which is kept as a pet in various countries. Two of the four species of degus are

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 ...

.Wise Geek
/ref>University of Michigan

Classification

This genus was first described in 1832 by the British zoologist Edward Turner Bennett.

Taxonomy

The genus name ''Octodon'' comes from the Latin ''octo'', eight, with reference to their teeth, molars and premolars having the shape of the number 8. The full list of species is: * ''O. bridgesii'',

Bridges's degu Bridges's degu (''Octodon bridgesii'') is a species of rodent in the family ''Octodontidae''. It is found in southern Chile. The species was named after Thomas Bridges. Taxonomy Ricardo Ojeda's degu (''O. ricardojedai''), which is found in A ...

, found in central Chile * ''O. degus'', the common degu or degu, found in central Chile * ''O. lunatus'', the

moon-toothed degu 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 c ...

, found in central Chile * ''O. pacificus'', the

Pacific degu The Pacific degu (''Octodon pacificus''), also known as the Mocha Island degu, is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is endemic to Mocha Island in Chile. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is ...

Mocha Island degu The Pacific degu (''Octodon pacificus''), also known as the Mocha Island degu, is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is endemic to Mocha Island in Chile. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is ...

, found exclusively on

Mocha Island Mocha Island ( es, link=no, Isla Mocha ) is a small Chilean island located west of the coast of Arauco Province in the Pacific Ocean. The island is approximately in area, with a small chain of mountains running roughly in north-south direction. ...

, Chile *''O. ricardojeda'',

Ricardo Ojeda's degu Ricardo Ojeda's degu (''Octodon ricardojeda'') is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is found in a small portion of eastern Chile and western Argentina, being the only degu found outside of Chile. It was named after Argentine mam ...

, found in western Argentina and Chile

Distribution

In the wild, all species of degus live in the Andes, mainly in the mountains of Chile, to which most of them are endemic, aside from a few populations of '' O. ricardojeda'' in the neighboring province of Neuquén, Argentina. They are found between 0 and 1,800 m in altitude.

Description

They are medium-sized octodontids. Their total body length varies between 200 and 390 mm, with a tail which measures between 81 and 170 mm and represents 70 to 80% of the head + body length. The coat color is grayish, or dull with orange highlights, and turns creamy yellow on the belly. The tail is carried slightly curved and is the same color as the body, and ends with a tuft of black hairs, with the extent of black depending on the species. The ears are quite large and protrude widely from the head, except in ''O. pacificus'' . The lower limbs are suitable for jumping, with pads on the soles of the paws that prevent slipping. The forelegs have four clawed fingers, along with a poorly developed fifth finger with a nail. The glans of the penis is characterized by a variable number of spikes, 5 or more in number, on each side.

Lifestyle

They are both

and diurnal. Degus are primarily folivorous herbivores. Their diet varies according to annual vegetation cycles. The consumption of their own droppings (

coprophagia Coprophagia () or coprophagy () is the consumption of feces. The word is derived from the grc, κόπρος , "feces" and , "to eat". Coprophagy refers to many kinds of feces-eating, including eating feces of other species (heterospecifics), o ...

) is practiced during times of scarcity. This provides them with a nutritional supplement thanks to the microbial fermentation that takes place in the cecum and optimizes the digestion of fibrous foods. These social animals dig a burrow made of a series of tunnels where they live in small to large groups composed of both males and females.

Conservation status

'' O. bridgesii'' (assessed as conspecific with '' O. ricardojeda'') is considered

vulnerable Vulnerable may refer to: General * Vulnerability * Vulnerability (computing) * Vulnerable adult * Vulnerable species Music Albums * ''Vulnerable'' (Marvin Gaye album), 1997 * ''Vulnerable'' (Tricky album), 2003 * ''Vulnerable'' (The Used album) ...

by the IUCN Red List, while '' O. pacificus'' is considered critically endangered. The other two species are considered of least concern.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q628979 Rodent genera Taxa named by Edward Turner Bennett