Bridges' degu

Bridges' Degu
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Octodontidae
Genus:	Octodon
Species:	O. bridgesi
Binomial name
Octodon bridgesi Waterhouse, 1845

Bridges' Degu (Octodon bridgesi) is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile, most typically in southern Chile.^[2] The species was named after Thomas Bridges, a Victorian botanist who sent specimens to the British Museum for identification.^[3]

Biology and physiology

Unlike its close relative the common degu, Bridges' degu is nocturnal (active at night).^[4]

Bridges' degu has deep molar indentaions and has a deep fold on the inside of the last molar.^[5]

Habitat

The species is less widely distributed in Chile than the common degu and inhabits rocky, forested areas^[5] and some open farmland,^[2] although it is far less well adapted for digging^[4] but does have some climbing ability.^[6] Deforestation may be contributing to the decline of this species.^[4]

References

1. ^ Lessa, E., Ojeda, R. & Bidau, C. (2008). Octodon bridgesi. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 5 January 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b} Saavedra, B.; Simonetti, J. (2003), "Holocene distribution of Octodontid rodents in central Chile", Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 76: 383–389. 
3. ^ Palma, R.E. (2007), "Estado actual de la mastozoologia en Chile", Mastozoologia Neotropical 14: 5–9. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Ocampo-Garcés, A.; Mena, W.; Hernández, F.; Cortés, N.; Palacios, A.G. (2006), "Circadian chronotypes among wild-captured west Andean octodontids", Biol Res. 39: 209–220. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Boraker, D. (1975), "Octodon degus", Mammalian Species 67. 
6. ^ Gallardo-Santis, A.; Simonetti, J.A.; Vásquez, R.A. (2005), "Influences of tree diameter on climbing ability of small mammals", Journal of Mammalogy: 969–973. 

Links

• Deguworld.com - The Internet's Degu Expert