Common Degu: Profile, Traits, Facts, Baby, Pet, Habitat, Diet

Origins of the Name “Degu”

The term “degu” encompasses not only the entire genus Octodon but also specifically refers to the common degu. Belonging to the parvorder Caviomorpha within the infraorder Hystricognathi, alongside notable companions such as the chinchilla and guinea pig, this classification underscores the degu’s taxonomic affiliation within the rodent family. The etymology of the word “degu” traces back to the indigenous language of Chile, Mapudungun, where “dewü” signifies ‘mouse’ or ‘rat’, encapsulating the essence of this endearing creature within its native linguistic context.

Potential as a Pocket Pet

The common degu also holds potential as a cherished pocket pet, offering companionship and amusement to enthusiasts worldwide. However, despite its popularity, regulatory restrictions exist in certain jurisdictions governing its ownership. Comparatively larger than a golden hamster yet smaller than an elaborate rat, the degu occupies a distinctive niche within the realm of domesticated rodents, captivating the hearts of pet owners with its playful demeanor and endearing antics.

Habitat and Geographic Distribution

Octodon degus thrive within the Mediterranean-type semi-arid shrubland ecosystem known as “matorral”, which flourishes along the western slopes of the Andes within the geographical coordinates of 28 to 35 degrees south latitude. This unique ecological niche, characterized by its diverse vegetation and moderate climate, serves as the quintessential habitat for the degu’s sustenance and survival. However, their distribution is constrained by environmental factors, with degus typically found at elevations below 1200 meters, dictated both by habitat availability and physiological limitations concerning oxygen partial pressure.

Ecological Constraints and Geographic Range

The geographic range of Octodon degus is delineated by the climatic conditions conducive to the matorral ecosystem. To the north, the aridity becomes prohibitive for this specialized plant community, while to the south, excessive moisture poses similar challenges. As such, degus remain confined within this narrow band of habitat, intricately woven into the fabric of their natural environment. Their presence within this ecosystem reflects a delicate balance between ecological adaptation and environmental constraints, highlighting the intricacies of their evolutionary journey within the Chilean landscape.

Geographic Range and Distribution

The common degu is predominantly found in west-central Chile, where it occupies the lower slopes of the Andes. While there have been suggestions of its range extending northward into Peru, such claims lack substantial support. Despite its native habitat, the common degu has become a familiar presence in the global pet trade and is frequently utilized in laboratory research beyond its natural boundaries.

Visual Capabilities of the Common Degu

Diverging from other members of the octodontid family, common degus exhibit diurnal behavior, remaining active during daylight hours, and boast impressive visual acuity. Their retinas are equipped with rod cells and two types of cone cells, optimized for sensitivity to green and ultraviolet wavelengths. Behavioral studies have elucidated their ability to discern ultraviolet light, suggesting a potential social function as evidenced by the UV reflectivity of their ventral fur and urine.

Communication Methods

Communication among common degus is multifaceted, encompassing a diverse array of techniques. Their vocal repertoire comprises an extensive range of sounds, estimated to include up to 15 distinct vocalizations. The significance of auditory communication is underscored by the necessity for young degus to hear their mother’s calls for proper emotional development. Furthermore, they utilize urine for scent marking, with experiments demonstrating their ability to perceive and respond to the markings of conspecifics. However, it’s noteworthy that in males, the hormone testosterone may influence their olfactory perception, potentially suppressing their sense of smell to some extent.

Social Dynamics and Behavioral Significance

The intricate communication methods employed by common degus underscore the significance of social interactions within their communities. Vocalizations facilitate various aspects of social cohesion and coordination, while scent marking serves as a means of territorial demarcation and social signaling. Understanding these communication strategies provides valuable insights into the complex social structures and behavioral dynamics of common degu populations, illuminating the intricacies of their interspecies relationships and ecological adaptations.

Social Structure:

• Degus typically form social groups consisting of 1 to 2 males and two to 5 related females.
• Females in these groups often engage in cooperative breeding, participating in rearing each other’s young.
• These groups establish and maintain territories throughout much of the year, marking their favorite areas with urine and anal gland secretions to communicate and delineate territorial boundaries.

Habitat and Burrowing:

• Degus are semi-fossorial animals, meaning they dig extensive communal burrow systems for shelter and protection.
• These burrows are shared by other species, such as the Bennett’s chinchilla rat, highlighting the complex interactions and cohabitation among different rodent species.
• While they primarily reside underground, degus feed exclusively above ground, foraging for food and occasionally climbing into low branches of shrubs.

Dustbathing:

• Dustbathing is a crucial social behavior among degus, serving multiple purposes such as hygiene, social bonding, and territory marking.
• Degus regularly engage in dustbathing activities, rolling and rubbing themselves in dust or sand to clean their fur and maintain their health.

Activity Patterns:

• Degus are primarily diurnal animals, meaning they are most active during the daytime.
• They exhibit peak activity levels during the morning and evening hours, with periods of rest and relaxation during the midday hours.

In summary, degus display intricate social behaviors, cooperative breeding strategies, and habitat adaptations that contribute to their survival and success in their natural environment. Their social groups, burrowing habits, dustbathing rituals, and diurnal activity patterns all play essential roles in their daily lives and interactions within their ecosystem.

Communal Living and Burrowing:

• Degus are social animals that reside in burrows, where they engage in communal activities and interactions.
• By digging together, degus can create larger and more elaborate burrow systems than they could individually, showcasing their cooperative behavior and coordination.
• When digging, degus form digging chains, where individuals coordinate their activities to efficiently construct their burrows.

Communal Nesting and Care:

• Females within the same group of degus often engage in communal nesting, spontaneously sharing nests and nursing each other’s young.
• This cooperative behavior extends to childcare, with females collectively caring for and nursing the offspring of other group members, demonstrating mutual care and support within the group.

Foraging and Predator Detection:

• While degus spend a considerable amount of time on the ground foraging for food, they remain vigilant for potential predators.
• In larger groups, the collective vigilance of the degus increases, enhancing their ability to detect predators and respond to potential threats.
• By foraging in groups, degus can reduce the time spent in vigilant behaviors individually, allowing them to focus more on feeding and social interactions.

Overall, common degus exhibit complex social behaviors that facilitate cooperation, communication, and mutual support within their groups. Their communal living arrangements, coordinated activities, and cooperative care strategies contribute to their social cohesion and survival in their natural habitat.

Dietary Preferences:

• Degus feed on a variety of plant materials, including leaves, bark, and seeds of shrubs and forbs.
• Favorite food items include the bark of certain plants like Cestrum palqui and Mimosa cavenia, as well as the leaves and bark of Proustia cuneifolia, Atriplex repunda, and Acacia caven.
• They also consume annuals such as Erodium cicutarum when available, along with green grasses and thistle seeds.

Selection Criteria:

• Degus tend to choose food items that are lower in fiber and higher in nitrogen and moisture, preferring younger leaves over woodier shrubs.
• Their dietary preferences are influenced by their nutritional needs and digestive capabilities, optimizing their intake for efficient digestion and nutrient absorption.

Digestive Adaptations:

• Degus rely on microbial fermentation in their enlarged cecum for digestion, being hindgut fermenters.
• They exhibit coprophagy, or the reingestion of feces, particularly during the night, which aids in maximizing nutrient absorption and digestion efficiency.

Seasonal Food Storage:

• Degus store food supplies during the winter months, ensuring a steady food source during periods of scarcity or inclement weather.
• In old age, degus may occasionally consume meat, although this behavior is less common and may be attributed to specific dietary needs or preferences.

Overall, common degus exhibit selective feeding behaviors to meet their nutritional requirements, relying on specialized digestive adaptations to efficiently digest plant materials and maximize nutrient utilization. Their ability to store food and adapt their diet according to seasonal changes contributes to their survival and well-being in their natural habitat.

Common Degu Diet

Natural Feeding Habits

Common degus, creatures strictly adherent to herbivorous diets, predominantly graze on grasses and browse the leaves of shrubs in their natural habitat. However, they also display a propensity for seeds, enriching their dietary spectrum.

High Fiber Consumption

Across the seasons, their forage undergoes desiccation, necessitating a diet rich in fiber to meet their metabolic demands. This fiber intake fluctuates, adapting to various meal compositions and environmental factors.

Coprophagy: A Unique Adaptation

Similar to rabbits and other herbivores, common degus engage in coprophagy, the practice of reingesting feces. This behavior facilitates the extraction of additional nutrients from their diet and aids in maintaining optimal gut health during periods of food scarcity.

Diurnal Patterns and Foraging Behavior

While typically diurnal, common degus exhibit altered behavior during peak summertime, remaining within their burrows during the day and emerging for foraging activities in the mornings and evenings, aligning with cooler temperatures.

Sugar Intolerance: A Key Physiological Trait

Notably, common degus possess a remarkable intolerance to dietary sugar, attributed to their evolutionary adaptation to sugar-scarce environments. Their divergent insulin structure renders them highly susceptible to diabetes mellitus when consistently exposed to diets containing free sugars.

Dietary Considerations in Captivity

Given their vulnerability, it’s imperative to scrutinize the ingredients of non-degu-specific feeds provided to captive degus, avoiding sugar-laden components like molasses, honey, and glucose syrup to ensure their well-being.

Common Degu as a Pet

Transition from Research Subjects to Companion Animals

Originally subjects of scientific inquiry, common degus have transitioned into beloved pets, albeit once rare in pet stores. Their popularity burgeoned due to their diurnal nature, affable dispositions, furry tails (distinguishing them from rats and mice), and relatively extended lifespan.

Endearing Qualities

Their engaging personalities and longevity, with reports suggesting lifespans of up to 13 years in optimal conditions (though influenced by genetic factors), distinguish them from conventional small pets. However, a degu’s lifespan may diminish significantly due to genetic predispositions or a subpar gene pool.

Longevity in Captivity

Typically, common degus in captivity boast an average lifespan of six to eight years, contingent upon the quality of care provided and genetic predispositions.

Common Degu Breeding

Seasonal Reproduction

Common degus exhibit seasonal breeding behavior, typically initiating the breeding season during the Chilean autumn, coinciding with a balance between day and night durations, with offspring typically born in early to mid-spring.

Extended Gestation Period

Female degus undergo a prolonged gestation period lasting approximately ninety days, a duration comparatively longer than that of other non-caviomorph rodents.

Variable Pregnancy Factors

The weight of pregnant female degus fluctuates throughout gestation, influenced by litter size, which typically averages six pups per litter but can range from one or two to as many as twelve offspring. How AI, ChatGPT maximizes earnings of many people in minutes

Male Aggression and Dominance

During the breeding season, male degus exhibit heightened aggression towards other males, asserting dominance by excluding them from burrows and monopolizing access to females, typically numbering between two to four per male.

Territorial Behaviors

Both male and female degus intensify territorial behaviors such as dustbathing and urine marking during the breeding season, with males displaying increased activity in these behaviors. Motivation – Mind – Success – Thinking – Productivity – Happiness

Courtship Rituals

Males engage in elaborate courtship rituals, including mutual grooming with females and displaying behaviors like tail wagging and body trembling, culminating in the male spraying urine onto the female, potentially to familiarize her with his scent and enhance receptivity to future advances.

Parental Involvement

Male common degus exhibit a rare trait among rodents, actively participating in the protection and care of offspring until they reach a stage of independence, unlike most other rodent species.

Breeding Patterns in the Wild

Wild degus typically breed once annually, with the breeding season commencing in late May (Chilean autumn) and offspring conceived during late winter to early spring (September to October). Some years may witness the production of second litters. Business – Money Making – Marketing – E-commerce

Reproductive Physiology

While the degu’s reproductive system may respond to changes in photoperiod, the exact mechanisms of ovulation induction remain uncertain. Gestation lasts 90 days, with litter sizes typically ranging from 4-6 pups, born precocial with fur, teeth, and open eyes.

Development and Weaning

Degu pups are weaned at four to five weeks of age, reaching sexual maturity between 12 and 16 weeks. However, they attain adult size around six months of age and usually form same-sex social groups until their first breeding season around nine months. Health books, guides, exercises, habits, Diets, and more

Effects of Isolation

Reports suggest that pups raised in isolation may experience severe neural and behavioral abnormalities, highlighting the importance of social interaction during early development for optimal health and well-being.