Gerbil Maniac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote >Hi Angie: > >I breed both Degus and Chins. > >It is true that Gerbils, Degus and Chins are rodents but Degus and Chins are >much more closely related. Specifically, they are part of the Suborder >Caviomorpha [which are confined to South America] of the Order Rodentia. The >Caviomorphs diverged from the rest of the rodents some 25 million years ago. > >Now, Degus and Chins still in separate Families [Octodontidae and Chinchillidae, >respectively] in the Suborder Caviomorpha. For comparison, Gerbils are in the family Cricetidae which includes hamsters, voles and lemmings as well as gerbils. So gerbils are far more closely related to all these animals than they are to Degus. -- Julian ************************************************************************ * Jackie and Julian * * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * National Gerbil Society * * http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ * ************************************************************************
