Bridges's degu

Last updated

Bridges's degu
Status iucn3.1 VU.svg
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)(includes ricardojedai) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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]

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 , hdl: 10533/177393 , 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 , hdl: 10533/175955