Moon-toothed degu
| Moon-toothed degu | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Octodontidae |
| Genus: | Octodon |
| Species: | O. lunatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Octodon lunatus Osgood, 1943 |
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The moon-toothed degu (Octodon lunatus) is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae.[2] It is endemic to Chile, occurring in mountainous areas along the Pacific coast in the central part of the country.[3][1]
Biology and physiology [edit]
Unlike its close relative the common degu, the moon-toothed degu is nocturnal (active at night).[4] The ventral fur of this species has been found to be much less reflective of UV light than other octodontids,[5] most likely as a result of its nocturnal habits.
The moon-toothed degu has deep molar indentations but lacks a fold on the inside of the last molar.[6]
Habitat [edit]
The species is less widely distributed in Chile than the common degu and inhabits dense scrubland near the coast.[3] Habitat ranges from sea level to 1,200 m in the Andes. [5]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Lessa, E., Ojeda, R. & Bidau, C. (2009). "Octodon lunatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 30 Jan. 2011.
- ^ Woods, C. A.; Kilpatrick, C. W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1572. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b Saavedra, B.; Simonetti, J. (2003), "Holocene distribution of Octodontid rodents in central Chile", Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 76: 383–389.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Cha'vez, A.; Bozinovic, F.; Peich, F.; Palacios, A. (2003), "Retinal spectral sensitivity, fur coloration and urine reflectance in the genus Octodon (Rodentia): Implications for visual ecology", IOVS 44: 2290–2296.
- ^ Woods, C.; Boraker, D. (1975), "Octodon degus", Mammalian Species 67.
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