Bridges's degu

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Bridges's degu
Status iucn3.1 VU.svg
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)(includes ricardojedai) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Octodontidae
Genus: Octodon
Species:
O. bridgesii
Binomial name
Octodon bridgesii
Waterhouse, 1845

Bridges's degu (Octodon bridgesii) is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae . [2] It is found in southern Chile. [3] The species was named after Thomas Bridges. [4]

Contents

Taxonomy

Ricardo Ojeda's degu (O. ricardojedai), which is found in Argentina and Chile, was formerly considered a population of O. bridgesii, but was described as a distinct species in 2020. [5]

Biology and physiology

Unlike its close relative, the common degu, Bridges' degu is nocturnal. [6]

Bridges's degu has deep molar indentations and has a deep fold on the inside of the last molar. [7]

Habitat

The species is less widely distributed in Chile than the common degu and inhabits rocky, forested areas [7] and some open farmland, [3] although it is far less well adapted for digging [6] but does have some climbing ability. [8] Deforestation may be contributing to the decline of this species. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common degu</span> Species of rodent (Octodon degus)

The common degu, or, historically, the degu, is a small hystricomorpha rodent endemic to the Chilean matorral ecoregion of central Chile. The name degu on its own indicates either the entire genus Octodon or, more commonly, just the common degu. Common degus belong to the parvorder Caviomorpha of the infraorder Hystricognathi, along with the chinchilla and guinea pig. The word degu comes from the indigenous language of Chile, Mapudungun, and the word dewü, meaning 'mouse' or 'rat'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-nosed caenolestid</span> Species of marsupial

The long-nosed caenolestid, also known as the Chilean shrew opossum or long-nosed shrew opossum, is a shrew opossum that occurs in temperate forests of Argentina and southern Chile. It was first described by American zoologist Wilfred Hudson Osgood in 1924. The long-nosed caenolestid resembles Caenolestes species in morphology. It is characterized by a long, pointed snout, small eyes and ears, and one claw on a digit of each of the thin limbs. Little is known of its behavior; it appears to be terrestrial, nocturnal and omnivorous. It prefers cool, moist areas, and has a small distribution. It is classified as near threatened by the IUCN.

<i>Octodon</i> Genus of rodents

Octodon is a genus of octodontid rodents native to South America, in particular in the Chilean Andes. The best-known member is the common degu, O. degus, which is kept as a pet in various countries. Two of the four species of degus are nocturnal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennett's chinchilla rat</span> Species of rodent

Bennett's chinchilla rat is a species of chinchilla rat in the family Abrocomidae. It is found only in Chile where its habitat is Mediterranean-type scrub on the western side of the Andes. The IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum, also known as the Chilean mouse opossum, is an opossum from central Chile. The type species of Thylamys, it was first described by English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse in 1839. This medium-sized opossum is characterized by black rings around the eyes, white limbs, gray to light brown coat, lighter flanks and underbelly and a thick 12.7–14.6 centimetres (5.0–5.7 in) long tail covered with hairs. It is crepuscular and lives in nests in tree hollows or under rocks and roots. This opossum feeds mainly on arthropods and larvae apart from fruits. Litter size is typically between 11 and 13. The elegant fat-tailed opossum can occur in a variety of habitats – from cloud forests to chaparrals. The IUCN classifies the opossum as least concern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talas tuco-tuco</span> Species of rodent

The Talas tuco-tuco is a species of tuco-tuco endemic to eastern Argentina.

The moon-toothed degu is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is endemic to Chile, occurring in mountainous areas along the Pacific coast in the central part of the country.

The Pacific degu, also known as the Mocha Island degu, is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is endemic to Mocha Island in Chile. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It was classified in 1994 by Dr. Rainer Hutterer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain degu</span> Species of rodent

The mountain degu is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is the only species in the genus Octodontomys. It is found in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.

The mountain viscacha rat or mountain vizcacha rat, historically viscacha rat or vizcacha rat, is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is endemic to Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coruro</span> Genus of rodents

The coruro is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is the only species in the genus Spalacopus. The species is endemic to central Chile, where it has been found in a wide variety of habitats, from coastal to montane. It is fossorial and lives in colonies.

Porter's rock rat is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile at altitudes between 900 and 2,000 meters above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Octodontidae</span> Family of rodents

Octodontidae is a family of rodents, restricted to southwestern South America. Fourteen species of octodontid are recognised, arranged in seven genera. The best known species is the common degu, Octodon degus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dust bathing</span> Animal behavior

Dust bathing is an animal behavior characterized by rolling or moving around in dust, dry earth or sand, with the likely purpose of removing parasites from fur, feathers or skin. Dust bathing is a maintenance behavior performed by a wide range of mammalian and avian species. For some animals, dust baths are necessary to maintain healthy feathers, skin, or fur, similar to bathing in water or wallowing in mud. In some mammals, dust bathing may be a way of transmitting chemical signals to the ground which marks an individual's territory.

The delicate salt flat mouse is a sigmodontine rodent species in the family Cricetidae from South America. It is the only species in the genus Salinomys. Its habitat is scrublands bordering salt flats in the Monte Desert area of central western Argentina at elevations around 400 m. The closest relatives of the species are the chaco mice (Andalgalomys).

Kirchner's viscacha rat or Kirchner's vizcacha rat is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae described in 2014. It is one of three species in the genus Tympanoctomys. That species is endemic to Chubut Province in the central western Argentina, where it has a fragmented range. Its natural habitat is desert scrubland, dunes and salt flats, where it eats halophyte plants. It is a solitary, nocturnal rodent that constructs large mounds with complex burrows. The species was named in honor of both Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Néstor Kirchner, presidents of Argentina.

The Degus are a group of octodontid rodents in the Octodontidae family, but historically referred to the common degu.

Communal burrow refers to the habitat built by some species of mammals as a community habitat. There are some species that build burrows, but not communal burrows; and there are some species that live in communal groups, but do not construct burrows or any other type of habitat.

Ricardo Ojeda's degu is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is found in a small portion of eastern Chile and western Argentina, being the only degu found outside of Chile. It was named after Argentine mammalogist Ricardo Ojeda.

References

  1. Roach, N. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Octodon bridgesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T15087A115124772. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15087A78321197.en .
  2. Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 1571–1572. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  3. 1 2 Saavedra, B.; Simonetti, J. (2003), "Holocene distribution of Octodontid rodents in central Chile", Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 76 (3): 383–389, doi: 10.4067/s0716-078x2003000300004
  4. Palma, R.E. (2007), "Estado actual de la mastozoologia en Chile", Mastozoologia Neotropical, 14: 5–9
  5. D’Elía, Guillermo; Teta, Pablo; Verzi, Diego H; Cadenillas, Richard; Patton, James L (2020-12-10). "A new living species of degu, genus Octodon (Hystricomorpha: Octodontidae)". Journal of Mammalogy. 102 (1): 139–154. doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa143 . ISSN   0022-2372.
  6. 1 2 3 Ocampo-Garcés, A.; Mena, W.; Hernández, F.; Cortés, N.; Palacios, A.G. (2006), "Circadian chronotypes among wild-captured west Andean octodontids", Biol. Res., 39 (2): 209–220, doi: 10.4067/s0716-97602006000200003 , PMID   16874396
  7. 1 2 Woods, C.; Boraker, D. (1975), "Octodon degus", Mammalian Species (67): 1–5, doi:10.2307/3503820, JSTOR   3503820
  8. Gallardo-Santis, A.; Simonetti, J.A.; Vásquez, R.A. (2005), "Influences of tree diameter on climbing ability of small mammals", Journal of Mammalogy, 86 (5): 969–973, doi: 10.1644/1545-1542(2005)86[969:iotdoc]2.0.co;2