Octodontidae
Common Degu ( Octodon degus )
The Mirage rats ( Octodontidae ) are a living in South America rodent family from the subordination of the porcupine relatives ( Hystricomorpha ). The family contains eight genera with about 13 species, of which the Common Degu, which is sometimes kept as a pet in Germany, the most famous is.
Features
Mirage rats get their name from the external resemblance to rats, with whom they are but not closely related. There are small rodents with a dense, usually brown, gray or black colored fur. They have a relatively large head and a pointed snout. The eyes are rather large, the ears are in the living on the surface of species large and round, with the subterranean species (such as the Coruro ) small. Your scientific name Octodontidae ( in German " Achtzähner " ) they owe the chewing surface of their molars, which is shaped like the number 8 or a kidney. The dental formula is I1 - C0 - P1 - M3, so they have a total of 20 teeth.
The limbs are short, the front legs end in four and the hind legs in five toes, which all bear strong claws. The tail is built differently depending on the way of life in the grave genera it is short and naked in the living on the surface genera, however long and often bushy. Mirage rats reach a body length 12-31 cm and a weight of 60 to 700 grams.
A special feature of deceit rats is that the chromosome number varies considerably depending on the type. There are karyotypes of 2n = 38 to 2n = 102 With the Red and the Golden Viscacharatte include the only known mammals tetraploid ( four sets of chromosomes ) to this group.
Distribution and habitat
Mirage rats are native to southern South America, their range includes southern Bolivia, western Argentina and Chile. They have adapted to different habitats and come in coastal shrub land as well as in front of high mountains, 3500 meters height.
Way of life
Many species may well dig and live in burrows, some genera ( especially Coruros ) who specialize in a subterranean lifestyle. Many species live in groups and have complex social structures developed. Mirage rats are herbivores that feed on tubers, roots, plant bulbs, stems and the like. Once or twice a year brings the female one to ten pups.
System
The Mirage rats are anticipated within the rodents to the guinea pig relatives. Her sister group, the comb rats that are sometimes classified as subfamily even the illusion rats. Maybe they are also closely related to the chinchilla rats.
The family contains eight genera with 13 species:
- South American rock rats ( Aconaemys ), 3 types
- Octodon degus or ( Octodon ), 4 types
- Brush tail rat ( Octodontomys gliroides )
- Viscacharatte ( Octomys mimax )
- Golden Viscacharatte ( Pipanacoctomys aureus)
- Chalchaleros - Viscacharatte ( Salinoctomys loschalchalerosorum )
- Coruro ( Spalacopus cyanus)
- Red Viscacharatte or desert rat ( Tympanoctomys barrerae )
The Golden and the Chalchaleros - Viscacharatte were first described only in 2000 and are specialized inhabitants of salt deserts. Systematically, these two species are closely related to the Red Viscacharatte.