A degu is a small, burrowing rodent native to Chile that belongs to the parvorder Caviomorpha of the infraorder Hystricognathi, along with the chinchilla and guinea pig. They are diurnal, which means they are active during the day and sleep at night. Degus are social animals that live in communities of up to 100 in the wild. They are very vocal and spend lots of time digging and chewing. Degus are herbivores that eat leaves and shrubs in the wild. They have long silky coats that are grey-brown tinged, and a long, thin tail with a tufted, black tip. As pets, they are larger than a golden hamster but smaller than a fancy rat. They are great nappers, but once they get used to your schedule, they will come to greet you, often looking to play or get some belly rubs. Degus crave social interaction and exercise, and they do not like being held, picked up, or carried. They are intelligent and highly sociable animals that love to play and explore.