Agouti
Dasyprocta leporina
Distribution:
South America
Habitat:
Rainforest, grasslands, savannah.
Diet:
Fruit, nuts, vegetation.
Gestation:
120 days, two pups born.
Longevity:
15 - 20 years in both the wild and captivity.
Predators:
Humans, ocelots.
Conservation Status:
Least concern
General:
Agouti (ah-GOO-tee) are terrestrial rodents and move quickly; trotting, walking or bounding. They can grow up to 60cm long and weight around 4kgs. Agouti sit on their hind legs to eat, holding the food in their fore feet. They have very short tails and long legs, in relation to their body size, with sharp, hoof-like claws on their toes. They have five toes on their front feet and only three on each back foot.
Agouti have a varied range of sounds they use to communicate; grunts, squeals and event hind foot stamping which is generally used to portray distress and alert others.
Usually solitary rodents, Agouti are very territorial. Typically living in small family groups comprised of a mating pair and their offspring.
Fun fact: Agouti are good swimmers but cannot dive!
At Hamilton Zoo:
As you walk through the rainforest, look over the ledge and you might catch a glimpse of them roaming around.
Females:
Maria - 9/8/18
Chica - 19/4/18
Julia - 1/12/12
Bonita - 20/2/18
Christy - 24/4/19
Males:
Paper - 29/11/18
Rocky - 29/11/18