Degu
Basic Information:
Scientific Name: Octodon degus
Habitat: Degus are found along coastal and central scrubland on the lower western slope of the Andes Mountains of Chile.
Diet: Degus are strictly herbivores. They feed on the leaves, bark, and seeds of shrubs and green grasses and thistle seeds.
Size: 0.5 to 0.6 feet long
Weight: 0.6 to 1.1 pounds
Lifespan: 6 to 8 years
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Least Concern – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to be pervasive, abundant, and thriving.
Our Degus:
Betty White* (Female) – Estimated Date of Birth August 2021
Bea Arthur (Female) – Estimated Date of Birth August 2021
Rue (Female) – Estimated Date of Birth August 2021
*Betty White is a blue pied degu.
Did You Know?!
- Degus are social and tend to live in groups of one to two males and two to five related females. Females help to raise each other’s young.
- Degus are highly vocal and use various calls to communicate with one another.
- A degu’s vision is very important in their avoidance of predators and in foraging. It has been shown that degus are able to see ultraviolet wavelengths!
- Degus have an interesting way of escaping predators. If the tail is caught, a degu may spin until the skin comes loose or tail comes off.