About Octodon degus (Molina, 1782)
Octodon degus (Molina, 1782), the common degu, is a small rodent. Its total body length ranges from 25.0 to 31.0 cm (9.8 to 12.2 inches), and its adult weight falls between 170 and 400 g (6.0 to 14.1 oz). The common degu has yellow-brown fur on its upper body and creamy-yellow fur on its underparts. It has yellow fur around the eyes, and a paler fur band circling the neck. It has a long, thin tail that ends in a tufted black tip, dark sparsely furred ears, and pale grey toes. On its fore feet, the fifth toe is small and bears a nail instead of a claw. Its hind feet are covered in bristles. The shapes of its cheek teeth resemble the number eight, which gives the genus the name Octodon.
