Octodon degus
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Octodontidae
Octodon
Octodon degus

description: 10.
Common Degu
Octodon degus
French: Octodon du Chili / German: Degu / Spanish: Degli comun
Other common names: Degu
Taxonomy. Sciurus degus Molina, 1782,
“St. Jago.” Clarified by W. H. Osgood in 1943 to “Santiago, Chile.”
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. NC Chile, in the lower slopes of the Andes between Atacama and Valparaiso regions (from 28° S to 35° S).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 169-212 mm, tail 81-138 mm; weight 200-300 g. The Common Degu is the smallest species of Octodon. Males tend to be larger than females. Ears and eyes are large. Tail is long (40% ofthe total length) and curved and terminates in well-developed tuft with black tip. Fur is soft but coarser than in other members of the genus. Dorsal color is yellowish brown, and ventral parts are cream. Albino individuals are occasionally observed. Karyotype is 2n = 58, FN = 116.
Habitat. Semiarid and Mediterranean scrubland habitats (“matorral”) on western slopes of the Andes in central Chile from sea level to 2000 m. The Common Degu occurs in open areas with limited vegetation cover, characteristic of zones with steppes dominated by Acacia caven (Fabaceae).
Food and Feeding. The Common Degu is herbivorous and feeds on grasses, seeds, fruits, roots, and bark of plants such as Stipa plumosa (Poaceae), Cestrum parqui (Solanaceae), Mimosa cavenia (Fabaceae), Erodium cicutarium (Geraniaceae), Chenopodium petiolare (Amaranthaceae), Proustia cuneifolia (Asteraceae), Atriplex repanda (Amaranthaceae), and A. caven. Common Degus choose food items that reduce fiber and increase nitrogen and moisture in their diets (e.g. young leaves). They feed exclusively aboveground and have been observed climbing low shrubs while foraging. They can spend 5-6 hours/day foraging. Common Degus perform coprophagy, usually at night, which allows them to maximize their digestive efficiency. It has also been reported that Common Degus collect food and storesit in their burrows for winter consumption.
Breeding. Reproduction of the Common Degu occurs in July-October. Gestation is ¢.90 days. Four to six offspring are born mainly in spring (September—October) and summer (December—January). Young are precocial, with open eyes and fur and ability to eat vegetation at c.6—10 days of age. Young are weaned at 4-5 weeks and become sexually mature at 12-16 weeks of age. In captivity, Common Degus reproduced very easily.
Activity patterns. The Common Degu exhibits diurnal activity, although they are most active in morning and evening. They construct underground burrows and nest in subterranean chambers; they spend part of the time aboveground.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Common Degus are highly social and live in groups of 2-5 adult females with their young. Number of adult males per group is unclear; some authors indicate there is only one adult male per group, while others report groups with several adult males. Common Degus dig extensive communal burrow systems where members of a social group share the same burrow system, including a communal nest site. Within social groups, individuals seem to cooperate. Some individuals contribute to excavation of tunnels; in this way, they reduce per capita energetic cost of tunnel construction allowing them to construct more extensive tunnels than would be possible for one individual. They also provide communal care of young within groups. They are highly vocal and use various calls to communicate with one another, including alarm calls, mating calls, and communication between parents and young. Young Common Degus reportedly make high ultrasonic calls to elicit care from an adult. Dust bathing plays an important role in social communication among unfamiliar, same-sex conspecifics. Home ranges are small (0-04-0-71 ha). Food availability influences seasonal variation in size and location of adult homes ranges. Males and females have similar home range areas independent of season, suggesting that home ranges are influenced more by availability of food than breeding activity. Densities are c.123 ind/ha in winter and ¢.210 ind/ha in summer.
Status and Conservation. Classified as a Least Concern species on The IUCN Red List. There are no major conservation threats facing the Common Degu.
Bibliography. Aglero & Simonetti (1988), Contreras et al. (1987), Ebensperger (2000), Ebensperger & Bozinovic (2000a, 2000b), Ebensperger & Caiozzi (2002), Ebensperger & Hurtado (2005), Ebensperger, Hurtado et al. (2004), Ebensperger, Sobrero et al. (2008), Fernandez (1968), Fulk (1976), Iriarte (2008), Kenagy et al. (2002), Lacey & Ebensperger (2007), Lee (2004), Long (2007 2009), Mann (1978), Mella et al. (2002), Mufoz-Pedreros (2000), Ojeda & Bidau (2013e), Osgood (1943), Quirici et al. (2010), Soto-Gamboa (2004), Woods & Boraker (1975), Yanez (1976), Zunino et al. (1992).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Octodontidae, pp. 536-541 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 541, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6615351