# List of octodontids

Octodontidae is a family of small rodents restricted to southwestern South America. A member of this family is called an octodontid. Octodontids are medium-sized rodents, ranging from 12 to 20 centimetres (4.7 to 7.9 inches) in body length. They have long, silky fur, which is typically brownish in color and often paler on the underside. The name 'octodont' derives from the wear pattern of their teeth, which resembles a figure 8. Most are nocturnal, social, burrowing animals, though the degu is largely diurnal. They are herbivorous, eating tubers, bulbs, and cactuses.
There are 14 extant ochotonid species contained within 7 genera: Aconaemys (Andean rock rats), Spalacopus, Octodon (typical degus), Octodontomys, Octomys, Pipanacoctomys, and Tympanoctomys. Many extinct Octodontidae species have been discovered, with identification and classification of new discoveries still ongoing.

## Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the ochotonid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "†".

## Classification

The family Octodontidae consists of fourteen extant species in seven genera which are divided into several extant subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species. The cladogram below is based on that produced by Kelt et al., 2007.
Family Octodontidae
* Genus Aconaemys: three species
* Genus Spalacopus: one species
* Genus Octodon: five species
* Genus Octodontomys: one species
* Genus Octomys: one species
* Genus Tympanoctomys: three species
* Genus Pipanacoctomys: one species
Octodontidae
Aconaemys
Spalacopus
Octodon
Octodontomys
Octomys
Tympanoctomys
Pipanacoctomys :

## Octodontids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.
Genus Aconaemys – Ameghino, 1891 – 3 species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Chilean rock rat | A. fuscus (Waterhouse, 1842) | Eastern Chile | Size: 135-187 mm Habitat: Forests Diet: Roots and seeds | LC  Unknown |
| Porter's rock rat | A. porteri Thomas, 1917 | | Size: Habitat: Forest and rocky areas Diet: | DD  Unknown |
| Sage's rock rat | A. sagei Pearson, 1984 | Central Chile | Size: Habitat: Forest and rocky areas Diet: | DD  Unknown |
Genus Spalacopus – Wagler, 1832 – 1 species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Coruro | S. cyanus (Molina, 1782) Three subspecies S. c. cyanus S. c. maulinus S. c. poeppigii | | Size: Habitat: Forest, savanna and grassland Diet: | LC  Unknown |
Genus Octodon – Bennett, 1823 – 5 species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Bridges's degu | O. bridgesii Waterhouse, 1845 | | Size: Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: | VU  Unknown |
| Common degu | O. degus (Molina, 1782) | Central Chile | Size: 25-31 cm Habitat: Shrubland Diet: Grasses, shrubs, seeds | LC  Unknown |
| Moon-toothed degu | O. lunatus Osgood, 1943 | Central Chile | Size: Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas Diet: | NT  Unknown |
| Pacific degu | O. pacificus R. Hutterer, 1994 | Mocha Island | Size: Habitat: Forest Diet: | CR  Unknown |
| Ricardo Ojeda's degu | O. ricardojeda D’Elía, Teta, Verzi, Cadenillas & Patton, 2020 | Neuquén Province, Argentina and Araucanía Region, Chile | Size: Habitat: Wet forests and shrub steppe Diet: | NE |
Genus Octodontomys – Palmer, 1903 – 1 species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Mountain degu | O. gliroides (Gervais & d'Orbigny, 1844) | Northern Chile, southwestern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina | Size: 20-38 cm Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, and rocky areas Diet: Shrub leaves and bark, Acacia sheaths, cactus fruits | LC  Unknown |
Genus Octomys – Thomas, 1920 – 1 species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Mountain viscacha rat | O. mimax Thomas, 1920 | | Size: Habitat: Rocky areas Diet: | LC  Unknown |
Genus Tympanoctomys – Yepes, 1942 – 3 species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Plains viscacha rat | T. barrerae (B. Lawrence, 1941) | Western Argentina | Size: Habitat: Shrubland Diet: | NT  Unknown |
| Kirchner's viscacha rat | T. kirchnerorum Teta, Pardiñas, Sauthier & Gallardo, 2014 | Chubut Province, Argentina | Size: Habitat: Shrubland, grassland Diet: | DD  Unknown |
| Chalchalero viscacha rat | T. loschalchalerosorum Mares, Braun, Barquez & Díaz, 2000 | | Size: 14-16 cm Habitat: Wetlands and shrublands Diet: | CR  Unknown |
Genus Pipanacoctomys – Mares, Braun, Barquez, & Díaz, 2000 – 1 species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Golden viscacha rat | P. aureus Mares, Braun, Barquez, & Díaz, 2000 | | Size: Habitat: Wetlands (inland) Diet: | CR  Unknown |