title: Nutrition and behavior of degus (Octodon degus).
abstract: Octodon degus are herbivorous rodents that are adapted anatomically and behaviorally to utilize a fibrous diet with moderate-to-low levels of nonstructural carbohydrate. Captive degus should consume foods containing nutrients comparable to those consumed by free-ranging animals. The species is highly social, demonstrating a broad array of communication methods that make them appealing as a companion animal species. Controlled research studies with degus have produced a wealth of information that facilitates the care of this species in captivity.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Animal Nutrition, Animal Science Department, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Avenue, 010-0147, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0255, USA. msedward@calpoly.edu
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Edwards