The agouti (/ əˈɡuːtiː / ⓘ, ə-GOO-tee) or common agouti is many of several rodent species of the genus Dasyprocta. They are native to Central America, northern and central South America, and the southern Lesser Antilles. Some species have also been introduced elsewhere in …

agouti, (genus Dasyprocta), any of about a dozen species of tropical American rodents resembling the small forest-dwelling hoofed animals of tropical Africa and Asia (see chevrotain; duiker; royal antelope). Agoutis weigh up to 6 kg (13 pounds), with an elongated body measuring up to 76 cm (2.5 feet) long.

Dasyproctidae is a family of large South American rodents, comprising the agoutis and acouchis. [1] . Their fur is a reddish or dark colour above, with a paler underside. They are herbivorous, often feeding on ripe fruit that falls from trees. They live in burrows, and, like squirrels, will bury some of their food for later use. [2]

Part of an ancient rodent family with its origins in South America, pacas are one of the few mammal species that successfully moved north after North and South America became connected by the central American isthmus.

Agoutis are associated with primary and secondary forest and scrub. They require some dense vegetation for cover, but often prefer open areas for foraging. Highly adaptable, agoutis are often associated with water, and they frequently display a distinct preference for …

Dasyprocta punc­tata, com­monly known as Cen­tral Amer­i­can agoutis, is found from south­ern Mex­ico to north­ern Ar­gentina, and has been in­tro­duced to the Cay­man Is­lands. Cen­tral Amer­i­can agoutis are found in forests, thick brush, sa­van­nas, and cul­ti­vated areas.

Family Agoutidae pacas. To cite this page: Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2025. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at https://animaldiversity.org. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in ...

There are two species of large rodents in this family. Pacas are found in the forests in Central and South America and weigh around 20 pounds. They have reddish-brown fur with rows of white spots. They have very, very small tails; large heads; cheek pouches; and small, round ears. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs.

It is the only genus in the family Cuniculidae. They are large rodents with dots and stripes on their sides, short ears, and barely visible tails. They are also referred to as "gibnuts" or "royal rats".

Agouti paca density was estimated at 93 individuals/km2 based on burrow number, and between 67 to 70 individuals/km2 using transect methods. This discrepancy corroborates previous studies suggesting that transect methods underestimate population density.