What is Octodon?
Octodon The genus of gerbil -like rodents is concentrated around the Chile nation and runs on the west coast of South America. Although three of the four family members - o. Bridgesi , o. Pacifica and o. Scientists have been particularly interested in this second, so -called Common tast for decades, have studied its social social order, highly developed coordination skills and mysterious internal clocks.
Although their appearance is similar, each type of octodon occupies a slightly different niche in and its surroundings. lunatus or moon-toothed degus tends to live along the rocky Pacific coast. Pacificus is only native on the small island of Mocha, outside the araucapobřežní line. Stuck to the mountains are tast and bridges . Bridgesi or bridges' degus , stretches up to Andy to Argentina, while degus remains only on the western side of the mountains in the mountain.
According to the International Union for Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), it is considered to be the least concerned, mainly because of its prevalence both inside Chile and throughout the cages of pets. However, three more types of octodon face greater challenges. Since 2011, IUCn o. Pacificus "critically endangered" species, o. Bridgesi "vulnerable" and o. Lunatus "almost endangered." Deforestation due to agriculture or development is widely accused of most of these decreases.
Most types of octodon arrenocturn, although common degus is daily, which means sleeping at night. Perhaps these and abundant figures are the reason why scientists have decided to study them most. These animalsIt was used for a better understanding of the cirkadian system common to mammals. This allows environmental signals that will stimulate biological changes, such as ovulation or even changes in sleep samples, transition from night to daily habits. One study even determined that the degus see ultraviolet light that allows the urine to be shined and serves as a guide allowance.
Social order and customs tast are concentrated around the lair, which is another focus of zoos. According to the University of Michigan Zoology Museum, several men and several women will often share one burrow, using organized truck chains to create a complicated system of escape routes. Not only do mothers participate in breastfeeding children, but men spend time Huddling with very young people - without observed infanticides.