Bush rats

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Bush rats
Ordinary degu (Octodon degus)

Ordinary degu ( Octodon degus )

Systematics
Order : Rodents (Rodentia)
Subordination : Porcupine relatives (Hystricomorpha)
Partial order : Hystricognathi
without rank: Guinea Pig Relatives (Caviomorpha)
Family : Trug rats (Octodontidae)
Genre : Bush rats
Scientific name
Octodon
Bennett , 1832

The Octodon or degu (from the mapudungun sdewy ) are a rodent species from the family of octodontidae (Octodontidae).

There are four types:

features

Degus reach a head body length of 12 to 20 centimeters and a tail length of 10 to 16 centimeters. Ordinary degus weigh 170 to 300 grams, the other types are likely to be a little heavier. The fur of these animals is yellow-brown or gray-brown in color. A brush-like tail tassel is only found in the common degu. The first four toes of all four paws are well developed and have sharp claws; the fifth toe has receded. The head is relatively massive, the eyes and ears are relatively large. The incisors are colored orange, the cusps of the molars are arranged in the form of an eight, which is also referred to by the generic name Octodon ("eight tooth").

distribution and habitat

Degus are almost exclusively native to Chile , only the forest degus is also found in neighboring regions of Argentina . They inhabit different habitats: the common degu tends to live in shrubland, the other species also live in forests.

Way of life

The way of life of the individual species differs, but has only been better researched in the case of the common degu. This is diurnal and nocturnal, while other representatives (at least the Walddegu) are only nocturnal. Ordinary degus live in groups in self-dug burrows. It is unclear whether this also applies to the other species. The food consists of different parts of the plant.

nutrition

Degus mainly eat grass and bark. If they are kept as pets, they are fed hay, lettuce and carrots. However, degus do not tolerate fruit because they quickly develop diabetes mellitus if they eat a diet that is high in sugar . The cause is a form of insulin that differs from that found in most mammals.

Degus as pets

Degus and people

The Walddegu is extinct in parts of its range and is considered rare. According to the IUCN, the Pacific Degu, which only lives on the island of Mocha off the Chilean coast, is at risk. Ordinary degus, on the other hand, are widespread worldwide as experimental animals and as pets .

literature

  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
  • Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Juan C. Opazo, Mauricio Soto-Gamboa, Francisco Bozinovic: Blood glucose concentration in caviomorph rodents. In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology . Vol. 137, No. 1, January 2004, ISSN  1095-6433 , pp. 57-64, doi : 10.1016 / j.cbpb.2003.09.007 .

Web links

Commons : Shrub Rats  - Collection of images, videos and audio files