degu

plural degus

1. Any species of the genus Octodon, a small, caviomorph rodent native to Chile.

   Along the trails, degus leave mini-urine puddles marking the trail.

   2008, Ana Maria Rodriguez, Secret of the Singing Mice... and More!, page 37

   2 more examples

   Dr. Braun used used laboratory rats called degus or brush-tail rats (Octodon degus), a species of rodent closely related to guinea pigs.[…]In their natural environment, degu infants are raised jointly by their father and mother and are extremely communicative, using whistling tones to carry on intensive “conversations.”

   2011, Elsie Jones-Smith, Spotlighting the Strengths of Every Single Student, page 80

   Degus, or trumpet-tail rats, come from Chile. Taxonomically, they are in the same diverse order as guinea pigs and chinchillas. Degus have been used as laboratory animals for 20 years and in recent years have become popular as pets in the United States and Europe.

   2011, Katherine Quesenberry, James W. Carpenter, Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, unnumbered page

   Synonyms: brush-tailed rat, trumpet-tailed rat