All Animals

Agouti

Dasyprocta leporine
Mammal

Encounter me

Step into the world of our agouti and unlock the wonders of these extraordinary creatures

An image of an Agouti, a small terrestrial rodent

Agoutis (ah-GOO-tee) are terrestrial rodents and move quickly; trotting, walking or bounding. They can grow up to 60cm long and weight around 4kgs. Agoutis 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.

Agoutis 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, agoutis are very territorial. Typically living in small family groups comprised of a mating pair and their offspring.

Quick facts

Distribution:

South America

Habitat:

Rainforests, grasslands, savannahs

Conservation Status:

Least concern

Fun fact

Agoutis are good swimmers but cannot dive!

Frequently asked questions

Agoutis primarily consume a diet consisting of fruit, nuts, and vegetation. These forest-dwelling rodents rely on the rich plant life in their habitats to sustain themselves, making them important contributors to seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

Agouti offspring (called pups) take about 120 days to grow and develop. Typically, a litter consists of two pups.

Agoutis have a lifespan of approximately 15 to 20 years, whether they are in the wild or in captivity.

Agoutis have several predators, including humans and ocelots. These threats significantly impact their behaviour and survival strategies in their natural habitats.

A group of visitors meeting the agouti at Hamilton Zoo

Macaw and Agouti Encounter

Meet our macaws and agoutis

Join our expert keepers and meet both of these incredible animals up close. Discover the fascinating relationship between these two species and what makes them so special.