Degu, Guia de Fauna. RutaChile

Familia: Octodontidae
Genero: Octodon
Nombre Cientifico: degus

Scientific name: Octodon degus
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Distribution: Chile, from Huasco (III Region) to Rapel (Region VI), from sea level to 1,800 m altitude

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Habitat: lives in galleries with multiple entrances protected by thorn bushes, liter or kilo
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Description: long tail shaped brush hairs at the end. He has head and large eyes, with highly developed ears. In the forelegs fifth finger develops. His coat is firm and yellowish-brown on the back and white on the belly.




Behavior: its galleries are multiple, which has cameras nesting and shelter. Colonies may be hundreds, but the household is a male with three females. They are diurnal animals, moving with short, fast runs. When they eat it is a lookout that emits an intermittent whistle causing the flight. They are herbivores; eat roots, bark, microflora and hawthorn seed pods. They feed from dawn until noon, then in the twilight, to avoid the heat.

Countries where lives Degu

CHILE