By Jerry Svendsen
Geographic Range
Found in Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam, the Amazon Basin of Peru and northern Brazil.
Habitat
They are found in forests, thick brush, savannahs and cultivated areas. In Peru, they are confined to the Amazonian region where they are found in all parts of the low selva zone and many parts of the high selva zone. It is found at altitudes of 2000 m or more. Agoutis live in close proximity to water, being found on the banks of all types of streams.
In some areas, they construct burrows among limestone boulders, along river banks or under the roots of trees.
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland 
; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest .
Physical Description
(2.86 to 8.8 lbs)
Head and body length ranges from 415-620 mm. Tail length ranges from 10-35 mm. Fur is coarse and glossy, with the longest and thickest hair located on the posterior part of the back. Fur color ranges from pale orange through several shades of brown to almost black. The underparts are white, yellow or buff colored. The body form is slender, the ears are short, and the hindfoot fas three toes with hooflike claws. Females have four pairs of mammae.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
In Venezuela agoutis breed throughout the year. Females have an average estrous cycle of about 34 days, with gestation lasting around 104 to 120 days. They also experience postpartum estrus. Litters are usually made up of one or two young, sometimes three occurs. Newborns are fully furred, have their eyes open and are able to run in their first hour of life. Females lactate for about twenty weeks.
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Agoutis are basically diurnal, but in areas where they have been affected by humans they may not leave their shelters until dusk. They are terrestrial and are adapted for a cursorial life. They walk, trot or gallop on their digits, and also can jump vertically at least two meters from a standing start. Aggression increases in adults at the onset of every new litter. This is caused by the shortage of available food. During courtship rituals, the male sprays the female with urine causing her to go into a frenzy dance.
Food Habits
Diet consists of fruits, vegetables, and various succulent plants.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Agoutis tame easily and make good pets. They are also extensively hunted for food.
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
food .
Conservation Status
In some areas, they have declined drastically due to habitat destruction and hunting.
For More Information
Find Dasyprocta fuliginosa information at
Contributors
Jerry Svendsen (author), Ohio University.
