List of octodontids

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Common degu (Octodon degus) Degu eating a piece of dried banana.jpg
Common degu (Octodon degus)

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]

Contents

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]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories
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 "".

Classification

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

Octodontidae   

Octodontids

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]

Genus Aconaemys Ameghino, 1891 – 3 species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Chilean rock rat

Aconaemys fuscus.jpg

A. fuscus
(Waterhouse, 1842)
Eastern Chile
Aconaemys fuscus map.jpg
Size: 135-187 mm [6]

Habitat: Forests

Diet: Roots and seeds [6]
 LC 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [7]

Porter's rock rat


A. porteri
Thomas, 1917
Size:

Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [8]

Diet:
 DD 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [8]

Sage's rock rat


A. sagei
Pearson, 1984
Central Chile
Aconaemys sagei map.jpg
Size:

Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [9]

Diet:
 DD 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [9]

Genus Spalacopus Wagler, 1832 – 1 species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Coruro

Cururo en el Parque natural Gomez Carreno.jpg

S. cyanus
(Molina, 1782)

Three subspecies [10]
  • S. c. cyanus
  • S. c. maulinus
  • S. c. poeppigii
Size:

Habitat: Forest, savanna and grassland [11]

Diet:
 LC 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [11]

Genus Octodon Bennett, 1823 – 5 species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Bridges's degu


O. bridgesii
Waterhouse, 1845
Size:

Habitat: Forest and shrubland [12]

Diet:
 VU 


Unknown Decrease2.svg [12]

Common degu

Octodon degus -Heidelberg Zoo, Germany-8a.jpg

O. degus
(Molina, 1782)
Central Chile
Octodon degus range.svg
Size: 25-31 cm [13]

Habitat: Shrubland [14]

Diet: Grasses, shrubs, seeds [15]
 LC 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [14]

Moon-toothed degu


O. lunatus
Osgood, 1943
Central Chile
Octodon lunatus range.svg
Size:

Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas

Diet:
 NT 


Unknown Decrease2.svg

Pacific degu


O. pacificus
R. Hutterer, 1994
Mocha Island
Octodon pacificus distribution.svg
Size:

Habitat: Forest

Diet:
 CR 


Unknown Decrease2.svg

Ricardo Ojeda's degu


O. ricardojeda
D’Elía, Teta, Verzi, Cadenillas & Patton, 2020
Neuquén Province, Argentina and Araucanía Region, ChileSize:

Habitat: Wet forests and shrub steppe [16]

Diet:
 NE 


Genus Octodontomys Palmer, 1903 – 1 species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Mountain degu

Octodontomys gliroides 238516748.jpg

O. gliroides
(Gervais & d'Orbigny, 1844)
Northern Chile, southwestern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina
Octodontomys gliroides range.svg
Size: 20-38 cm [17]

Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, and rocky areas [18]

Diet: Shrub leaves and bark, Acacia sheaths, cactus fruits [17]
 LC 


Unknown Steady2.svg [18]

Genus Octomys Thomas, 1920 – 1 species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Mountain viscacha rat


O. mimax
Thomas, 1920
Size:

Habitat: Rocky areas [19]

Diet:
 LC 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [19]

Genus Tympanoctomys Yepes, 1942 – 3 species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Plains viscacha rat

Tympanoctomys barrerae.jpg

T. barrerae
(B. Lawrence, 1941)
Western Argentina
Tympanoctomys barrerae range.png
Size:

Habitat: Shrubland [20]

Diet:
 NT 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [20]

Kirchner's viscacha rat


T. kirchnerorum
Teta, Pardiñas, Sauthier & Gallardo, 2014
Chubut Province, ArgentinaSize:

Habitat: Shrubland, grassland [21]

Diet:
 DD 


Unknown Blue question mark (italic).svg [21]

Chalchalero viscacha rat


T. loschalchalerosorum
Mares, Braun, Barquez & Díaz, 2000
Size: 14-16 cm [22]

Habitat: Wetlands and shrublands [23]

Diet:
 CR 


Unknown Decrease2.svg [23]

Genus Pipanacoctomys Mares, Braun, Barquez, & Díaz, 2000 – 1 species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Golden viscacha rat


P. aureus
Mares, Braun, Barquez, & Díaz, 2000
Size:

Habitat: Wetlands (inland) [24]

Diet:
 CR 


Unknown Decrease2.svg [24]

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'.

<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.

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.

<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">Chilean rock rat</span> Species of rodent

The Chilean rock rat is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is found in the high Andes of Argentina and Chile.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

<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.

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.

<i>Galea</i> (genus) Genus of rodents

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.

References

  1. Ojeda 2016, pp. 536–541.
  2. "Search: Taxonomy: Octodontidae - Family". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  3. "Fossilworks: Octodontidae". Paleobiology Database . University of Wisconsin–Madison . Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  4. Kelt, Douglas A.; Lessa, Enrique P.; Salazar-Bravo, Jorge (2007-07-31). "The Octodontidae Revisited". The Quintessential Naturalist: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Oliver P. Pearson. University of California Press. pp. 694–719. doi:10.1525/california/9780520098596.003.0019. ISBN   978-0-520-09859-6.
  5. Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Family Octodontidae". 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. 1570–1573. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  6. 1 2 Eisenberg, John F.; Redford, Kent H. (1992). Mammals of the Neotropics, Volume 2: The Southern Cone: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. University of Chicago Press. p. 355. ISBN   978-0-226-70682-5.
  7. Roach, N. (2016). "Aconaemys fuscus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T278A78318793. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T278A78318793.en . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  8. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Aconaemys porteri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136331A22239645. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136331A22239645.en . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  9. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Aconaemys sagei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T279A78318855. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T279A78318855.en . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  10. 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. p. 1573. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  11. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Spalacopus cyanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T20427A78323110. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T20427A78323110.en . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 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 .
  13. Woods, C.; Boraker, D. (21 November 1975), "Octodon degus" (PDF), Mammalian Species (67): 1–5, doi:10.2307/3503820, JSTOR   3503820, S2CID   253992625
  14. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Octodon degus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T15088A78321302. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T15088A78321302.en . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  15. Bozinovic, F.; Gallardo, P.A.; Visser, G.H.; Cortés, A. (2003), "Seasonal acclimatization in water flux rate, urine osmolality and kidney water channels in free-living degus: Molecular mechanisms, physiological processes and ecological implications", J Exp Biol, 206 (Pt 17): 2959–2966, Bibcode:2003JExpB.206.2959B, doi: 10.1242/jeb.00509 , PMID   12878664
  16. 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.
  17. 1 2 James L. Patton; Ulyses F. J. Pardiñas; Guillermo D'Elía (9 March 2015). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. pp. 1035–1037. ISBN   978-0-226-16960-6. OCLC   904333770.
  18. 1 2 Weksler, M. (2016). "Octodontomys gliroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T15091A22240265. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T15091A22240265.en . Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  19. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Octomys mimax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T15093A78321632. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T15093A78321632.en . Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  20. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Tympanoctomys barrerae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22586A78323698. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T22586A78323698.en . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  21. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Tympanoctomys kirchnerorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T86051353A86051372. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86051353A86051372.en .
  22. Mares, M. A.; Braun, J. K.; Barquez, R. M.; Diaz, M. M. (2000). "Two new genera and species of halophytic desert mammals from isolated salt flats in Argentina" (PDF). Occ. Pap. Mus. Tex. Tech. Univ. 203 (1). Museum of Texas Tech University: 1–27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  23. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Tympanoctomys loschalchalerosorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136714A78324608. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136714A78324608.en . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  24. 1 2 Roach, N. (2016). "Tympanoctomys aureus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136557A78324400. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136557A78324400.en .

Bibliography