How do you reserve your spot on a busy beach in the summertime? If you’re tired of watching your towel like a hawk while you splash in the sea, take a leaf out of the Common Degu’s book. To sand bathe, this Chilean rodent marks an area of sand with urine and rolls around in it. Sure, it’s not very “Baywatch”, but it will do the job.

Although the Common Degu looks like a defenceless ball of fur, it actually has a few tricks up its sleeve - or rather, its tail. If a predator catches a degu by its tail, a ring of skin at the base will tear off, allowing the degu to make a break for freedom. Unfortunately, they can’t regenerate limbs, so this method can only be used once.

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