Red-rumped agouti

The red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), also known as the golden-rumped agouti, orange-rumped agouti or Brazilian agouti, is a species of agouti from the family Dasyproctidae.

Red-rumped agouti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dasyproctidae
Genus: Dasyprocta
Species:
D. leporina
Binomial name
Dasyprocta leporina
Geographic range
Synonyms

Mus aguti Linnaeus, 1766[2]
Mus leporinus Linnaeus, 1758

Distribution

It is native to northeastern South America, where found in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, northeastern Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. It has also been introduced to Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Grenada, and Dominica.[2]

Names

Despite the alternative name Brazilian agouti, it is neither the only nor the most widespread species of agouti in Brazil. In Brazil all agoutis are often called "cutia" [kuˈtʃiɐ].

Habitat

It is found in a wide range of forests, including rainforest and secondary forest.[1]

Description
Captive specimen at Henry Vilas Zoo in the United States

Red-rumped agoutis weigh about 3 to 6 kilograms (6.6 to 13.2 lb). They are about 19 to 25 inches (48 to 64 cm) long. The females are larger than males but otherwise look similar. They are brownish with darker spots on the upper body. The fur becomes more orange as it goes past (going down) the middle area of the animal. The ears are somewhat square in shape. The front feet have four toes and the back have three each. They can be distinguished from other agoutis by their distinct coloring.

They have no distinct breeding season, but females come into season twice a year and generally have one to four young.[3] The gestation period is 104 to 120 days. On average, it takes 20 weeks for the young to be weaned. They live in pairs or family groups of the parents and babies. They need large areas for food, breeding, and territory; because of this, keeping them in captivity is difficult. It lives 15-20 yrs in captivity.

Diet

Food mostly consists of seeds, pulp, leaves, roots and fruits. They also feed on insect larvae when plant resources are low.[4] They are known to feed on and disperse Astrocaryum aculeatissimum seeds, as well as Hymenaea courbaril seeds.[4][5]

References
  1. Emmons, L.; Reid, F. (2016). "Dasyprocta leporina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T89497102A22197762. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T89497102A22197762.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 1538–1600. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. "The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago" (PDF).
  4. "Dasyprocta leporina (Red-rumped Agouti)" (PDF). Sta.uwi.edu. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. Pires, Alexandra; Galetti, Mauro (December 2012). "The agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) as seed disperser of the palm Astrocaryum aculeatissimum". Mastozoologia Neotropical. 19 (1).
  • John F. Eisenberg and Kent H. Redford, 2000. Mammals of Neotropics: Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil.
  • Bricklin, R. and P. Myers. 2004. "Dasyprocta leporina" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 12, 2006 at ADW: Dasyprocta leporina: CLASSIFICATION
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