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Agouti

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Dasyprocta leporina
Agouti

Range

They are found in Brazil.

Habitat

They live in the Amazon rainforest, hiding in thick brush near rivers, streams and swamps.

Body Traits

Agoutis are shy rodents. Rodents are a family that gnaw (chew) with 2 pairs of sharp front teeth called incisors. They are small and only weigh up to 10 pounds. They have coarse hair and a rounded body. Their back end has reddish-colored fur.

Habits

They are active during the day (diurnal). They do not climb trees. They spend their lives on the ground.

Diet

Agoutis eat only plants, like fruits and seeds (herbivores). They bury the leftover seeds for later. Sometimes the seeds grow into new trees. Because of this, agoutis are sometimes called "seed-spreaders.”

Predators

Predators that eat them are the jaguar, ocelot, harpy eagle, snakes and even man.

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Agoutis only have one mate their whole lives (monogamous). They can have babies at any time of year. Female agoutis are pregnant for 3-months (gestation). They have 2 babies.

Lifespan and/or Conservation Status

They only live about 6 years in the wild. It is not a threatened species.

Agouti

Classification

Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Hystricomorpha
Family: Dasyproctidae
Genus: Dasyprocta
Species: leporina

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