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. [1]
There are 14 extant ochotonid species contained within 7 genera: Aconaemys (Andean rock rats), Spalacopus, Octodon (typical degus), Octodontomys, Octomys, Pipanacoctomys, and Tympanoctomys. [2] Many extinct Octodontidae species have been discovered, with identification and classification of new discoveries still ongoing. [3]
Conservation status | |
---|---|
EX | Extinct (0 species) |
EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
CR | Critically Endangered (3 species) |
EN | Endangered (0 species) |
VU | Vulnerable (1 species) |
NT | Near threatened (2 species) |
LC | Least concern (5 species) |
Other categories | |
DD | Data deficient (3 species) |
NE | Not evaluated (1 species) |
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 "†".
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. [4]
Family Octodontidae
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. [5]
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 [6] Habitat: Forests Diet: Roots and seeds [6] | LC
|
Porter's rock rat | A. porteri Thomas, 1917 | Size: Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [8] Diet: | DD
| |
Sage's rock rat | A. sagei Pearson, 1984 | Central Chile | Size: Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [9] Diet: | DD
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Coruro | S. cyanus (Molina, 1782) Three subspecies [10]
| Size: Habitat: Forest, savanna and grassland [11] Diet: | LC
|
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 [12] Diet: | VU
| |
Common degu | O. degus (Molina, 1782) | Central Chile | Size: 25-31 cm [13] Habitat: Shrubland [14] Diet: Grasses, shrubs, seeds [15] | LC
|
Moon-toothed degu | O. lunatus Osgood, 1943 | Central Chile | Size: Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas Diet: | NT
|
Pacific degu | O. pacificus R. Hutterer, 1994 | Mocha Island | Size: Habitat: Forest Diet: | CR
|
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 [16] Diet: | NE |
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 [17] Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, and rocky areas [18] Diet: Shrub leaves and bark, Acacia sheaths, cactus fruits [17] | LC
|
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 [19] Diet: | LC
|
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 [20] Diet: | NT
|
Kirchner's viscacha rat | T. kirchnerorum Teta, Pardiñas, Sauthier & Gallardo, 2014 | Chubut Province, Argentina | Size: Habitat: Shrubland, grassland [21] Diet: | DD
|
Chalchalero viscacha rat | T. loschalchalerosorum Mares, Braun, Barquez & Díaz, 2000 | Size: 14-16 cm [22] Habitat: Wetlands and shrublands [23] Diet: | CR
|
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) [24] Diet: | CR
|
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'.
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.
The golden viscacha rat or golden vizcacha rat is the single species of the genus Pipanacoctomys of the rodent family Octodontidae. It has 92 chromosomes and has been regarded as tetraploid. This octodontid and its sister-species, the plains viscacha rat, may have arisen from the diploid mountain viscacha rat, as a result of the doubling and subsequent loss of some chromosomes. However, some genetic studies have rejected any polyploidism in mammals as unlikely, and suggest that amplification and dispersion of repetitive sequences best explain the large genome size.
Brucepattersonius igniventris, also known as the red-bellied akodont or red-bellied brucie, is a South American rodent in the genus Brucepattersonius. It is known only from a few specimens from the type locality in Iporanga, São Paulo, Brazil. Although it is threatened by habitat loss, it is protected by Alto Ribeira Tourist State Park.
The delectable soft-furred mouse or East African praomys is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only member of the genus Montemys; it was formerly classified in the genus Praomys.
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".
The Chilean rock rat is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is found in the high Andes of Argentina and Chile.
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.
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.
The Pacific spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
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.
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.
The Chalchalero viscacha rat or Chalchalero vizcacha rat is a species of caviomorph rodent in the family Octodontidae. It was formerly considered to be monotypic within the genus Salinoctomys, but has been shown by genetic analysis to nest within Tympanoctomys, and in particular, within the variation of T. barrerae. The species is endemic to a small area of northwestern Argentina, where it lives in shrublands bordering the salt flats of the Salinas Grandes. Its diet consists of halophyte plants. It is named after an Argentine musical group, Los Chalchaleros, whose songs were popular with its discoverers.
Bridges's degu is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is found in southern Chile. The species was named after Thomas Bridges.
Galea is a genus of South American rodents of the family Caviidae. 5-6 extant species are known, found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Brazil. They are:
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.