Where does the Central American agouti live?
The Central American agouti lives from Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico, through Central America, to north-western Ecuador, Colombia and far western Venezuela. A highly disjunct population is found in south-eastern Peru, far south-western Brazil, Bolivia, western Paraguay and far north-western Argentina. It has also been introduced to Cuba and the Cayman Islands. Agoutis live in forests, savannas and cultivated fields.
What does the Central American agouti eat?
Agoutis eat fallen fruit, leaves and roots, and sometimes climb trees to eat green fruit. They also eat bird eggs and shellfish. They are one of the few species that can open Brazil nuts without tools, thanks to their strength and sharp teeth, which helps disperse seeds. In an analysis of 240 species, agoutis came in fourth place for best sense of smell. At night they hide in hollow tree trunks or burrows.
Is the Central American agouti endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. Some populations have declined because of hunting and deforestation, but large populations remain, and the species is not considered threatened. The Central American agouti weighs 3 to 4.2 kg, and is typically reddish, orange or yellowish grizzled with black.
