Mountain degu

Brush tail rat ( Octodontomys gliroides )

The brush tail rat ( Octodontomys gliroides ) is a living in South America rodent species from the family of deceit rats ( Octodontidae ).

Features

Brush tail rat reach a body length of about 18 centimeters, the tail is as long as the body. The weight varies between 100 and 200 grams. Their coat is similar to the authentics chinchillas very soft and dense, it is colored white on top and gray on the bottom. The eyes and ears are relatively large, eponymous feature is the tail tuft, which is greater than that of the closely related degus.

Distribution and habitat

These rodents are common in the southwestern Bolivia, northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. Their habitat is mountainous and the plateau of the Altiplano, they come in dry habitats at altitudes of 2000 to 5000 meters before.

Way of life

Brush pack rats are likely to be crepuscular or nocturnal, as shelters serve them burrows under cacti and acacia and rocky crevices and caves. Their diet varies with the season. While they eat the legumes of the acacias in the winter, they eat in the summer rather the fruits of cacti.

Little is known about reproduction. After a 100 - to 110 - day gestation, the female gives birth to one to three pups. These are precocial, they have already opened a fur and eyes. The known maximum age was over 7 years.

According to the IUCN brush tail rat is not considered a threatened species.