Red Rumped Agouti
Dasyprocta Agouti
Locations and Habitats
Agoutis are found in the forest and woodenly areas of south and Central America. their habitats includes rain forests, Savannah's and cultivated fields. They hide themselves at night in hollow tree-trunks or burrow in the roots.
Movement
Active in their movements, their pace is either a trot or a spring movement followed by a gallop. Agoutis can also swim very well
Rodent like shape
Red/orange colored rear
Short legs
Long body
Almost looks like a large squirrel
Diet
Agoutis primarily feed off of fruits, vegetables and nuts. When food is available, the agouti will bury the food to prepare for scarcity. Agoutis have good memory, but occasionally they will overlook their hiding spots. The forgotten fruits and berries often sprout into trees which helps replenish the rain forests.
Fun Facts
1. Agoutis are one of the only animals in the world that can open a Brazil nut without using any tools. They can do this because of their strong jaw and extremely sharp teeth.
2. Agoutis are closely bred with guinea pigs
3. Vegetarian
4. Are a breed of the rodent family
5. Agoutis can swim very well
6. Red rumped agoutis are also known as golden or orange rumped agoutis
The agouti is a vertebrate animal
Niche: helps replenish trees by storing nuts and seeds under ground and then they start to grow
Kingdom: animilia
Related to the Brazilian agouti and has a rodent looking appearance
Preyed on my large cats and some large snakes
Have a good pigmentation in their fur, which makes them a target of hunting
Agoutis are not endangered
The Agouti and the Brazil Nut