Octodon bridgesii Waterhouse 1845
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 bridgesii

description: 7.
Bridges’s Degu
Octodon bridgesii
French: Octodon de Bridges / German: Walddegu / Spanish: Degu de Bridges
Other common names: Bridges's Octodon
Taxonomy. Octodon bridgesii Waterhouse, 1845,
“Chile.” Restricted by O. Thomas in 1927 to “Rio Teno, Colchagua,” O’Higgins, Chile.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. Chile’s Coastal Mountain Range in Cauquenes (Maule Region), Tomé (Bio Bio Region), and Nahuelbuta National Park (L.a Araucania Region) W of the Central Valley, and through the Chilean Andes from Banos de Cauquenes (O’Higgins Region) to Banos del Rio Blanco (La Araucania Region) and adjacent Argentina (Lanin National Park, Neuquén Province). Latitudinal range 34-40° S.
Descriptive notes Head-body 150-200 mm, tail length 102-167 mm; weight averaging 92 g. Bridges’s Degu is medium-sized. Ears are large. Tail is short (44-46% ofits total length) and straight, with a terminal brush of black hairs. Pelage is soft and is ocherbrown, with white spots underaxillary and inguinal parts. Karyotype is 2n = 58, FN = 116.
Habitat. Rocky and dense scrublands in Chile and dense forests, especially of Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae), in Argentina, at elevations from sea level to 1200 m. Bridges’s Degu prefers low densities oftrees, bare ground, and dead branches. It is scansorial but can climb and build nests in vegetation. In Chile, habitats are dominated by Baccharis sp. and Podanthus mitiqui (both Asteraceae); Aristotelia chilensis (Elaeocarpaceae); Eupatorium salvia (Asteraceae); Lithraea caustic and Schinus latifolius (both Anacardiaceae); Adesmia arborea (Fabaceae); and Beilschmiedia miersii (Lauraceae).
Food and Feeding. Bridges’s Degu is herbivorous and eats leaves, seeds, and grasses. The most important item on the diet is Pinus radiata (Pinaceae).
Breeding. Reproductive activity of Bridges’s Degu occurs in April-December. Litter sizes are 2-3 young.
Activity patterns. Bridges’s Degu is nocturnal. It can climb with help from its straight tail that rests on the ground. It is rarely seen, but its presence can be detected by its noisy alarm calls.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Average home range of the Bridges’s Degu is estimated to be 1242 m*.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Major threat to Bridges’s Degu is deforestation from forestry and agricultural activities. It disappeared from the Andean range in central Chile due to habitat clearing for horticultural development, and it was extirpated in the coastal range by local intensification of agriculture in areas previously unused by local farmers.
Bibliography. Gallardo (1992), Gallardo et al. (2007), Iriarte (2008), Munoz & Murua (1987), Munoz-Pedreros (2000), Mufoz-Pedreros & Yanez (2009), Ojeda & Bidau (2013c), Pearson (1995), Podesta et al. (2000), Redford & Eisenberg (1992), Saavedra (2003), Simonetti (1989a, 1994), Simonetti & Saavedra (1998), Thomas (1927a), Verzi & Alcover (1990), Waterhouse (1845).
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 540, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6615351