Mammals · Rodentia · Dasyproctidae

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Central American agouti is a long-legged, hare-like rodent that ranges through the understorey of American rainforests. It is diurnal and forms monogamous pairs that defend a territory for life. It feeds on large fruits and seeds, and when these are plentiful it buries the surplus in hundreds of individual caches spread across its territory, to recover them in the lean season. Those it fails to recover germinate, which makes it an essential sower of the tropical forest.

Weight

3 kg – 6 kg

Size

45 cm – 60 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestHerbivore Diurnal In pairs Rainforest Mammal

15countries 40parks

Fun facts

It is one of the few animals able to open the woody fruit of the Brazil nut: without it, that Amazonian tree would have far greater difficulty dispersing its seeds.
It forms monogamous pairs that usually last for life and that jointly defend a territory of several hectares.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Understorey of rainforest, dry forest and plantations in Central America and northern South America
Sexual maturity: 16 months
Gestation / incubation: 3.7 months
Litter / clutch size: 2

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/