Coastal degu
| Coastal degu | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Octodon lunatus | ||||||||||||
| Osgood , 1943 |
The coastal degu ( Octodon lunatus ) is a rodent species from the family of the Trug rats (Octodontidae). It is a close relative of the common degus, which is also kept as a pet in Europe .
Like all degus , coastal degus are rat-like animals with a massive head and large, oval ears. They reach a head body length of up to 20 centimeters and a tail length of up to 16 centimeters, so they are slightly larger than the common degu. Their fur is brownish in color.
They live in the mountainous coastal regions of the Chilean regions of Coquimbo and Valparaíso . Their habitat are bush lands and forests with thickets. In contrast to the common degu, they should be nocturnal. Otherwise little is known about their way of life.
According to the IUCN , the coastal Degu is "potentially threatened" (as of 2017).
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 .
Web links
supporting documents
- ↑ Octodon lunatus on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, March 2017 ; accessed on January 22, 2018