Dasyprocta leporina
Brazilian agouti

Brazilian agoutis, also called red-rumped, orange-rumped, or golden-rumped agoutis, are native to South America. The species ranges from the northern tip of the continent to the Brazilian Amazon and from the western borders of Venezuela and Brazil to the eastern coast. This neotropical rodent is common throughout its range, and researchers have studied agoutis at sites in Venezuela, French Guiana, and the Brazilian Amazon. (Asquith et al., 1999; Dubost, 1988; Emmons, 1997; Guimaraes Jr. et al., 2003; Henry, 1999; Silvius and V. Fragoso, 2003)

Agoutis occupy a wide variety of habitats as long as good cover exists, particularly near old logs, bodies of water, and swamps, and sometimes even live near people in gardens and on farms. However, Dasyprocta leporina appears to prefer forests of all types to human-inhabited areas when available, and their home ranges always contain at least some sheltered area. (Dubost, 1988; Henry, 1999)

Brazilian agouti females are larger than males, otherwise both sexes have a similar appearance. Weights range between 3 and 5.9 kg, and total length ranges betweem 49 and 64 cm. The fur is a speckled olive brown, sometimes with darker patches on the upper torso (often varying by region), and there is a patch of long orange or red hairs on the rump. Agouti undersides are orange-brown, and have a white stripe going down the middle. Small, round ears and a short peg-like tail are bare. Forefeet have four toes whereas hind feet only have three. Forelegs are shorter than hind legs. Dasyprocta leporina body size and overall shape is similar to black agoutis (Dasyprocta fuliginosa), but Brazilian agoutis are distinguishable by their distinct color pattern. (Emmons, 1997; Grzimek, 1990; Henry, 1999)

Though specific data on D. leporina longevity are unavailable, other members of the genus have lived 15 to 20 years in captivity. Male life expectancy is lower than female life expectancy in the wild, but little is known about the average life expectancy in the wild of either sex. This is due to the difficulty in catching and marking individuals in the field. (Dubost, 1988; Silvius and V. Fragoso, 2003; Walker, 1975)

Brazilian agoutis are very nervous and wary, and are always on the lookout for danger. Males tend to inhabit open areas more often than females, who prefer areas with greater cover (and thus male mortality rates are often greater than female mortality rates). In addition, many male juveniles are forced to disperse and find territories of their own in perhaps sparse areas, leading to additional male mortality. Agoutis are always aware of their surroundings so that they might flee as quickly as possible upon sighting a predator. Dasyprocta leporina has powerful hind legs and a streamlined body, making it an excellent runner. Agoutis forage and travel most immediately after dawn and just before dusk, and sometimes even at night if the moon is bright enough. However, these animals are mainly diurnal and appear to have poor night vision. Agoutis have high energetic requirements, and show a bout of foraging activity just before dark . This allows the animals to can secure enough food to last them through the night. (Dubost, 1988; Emmons, 1997)

Home Range

Brazilian agoutis have a home range of 3 to 8.5 ha, and shift their ranges seasonally based upon food availability. (Silvius and V. Fragoso, 2003)

Dasyprocta leporina uses grunts, squeals, or hind foot stamping indicate distress or alarm. Since the animals live in small groups to enable them to better spot and respond to predators, any sort of indication of alarm benefits the entire group. Like many prey animals, their eyes are oriented at an angle best able to detect potential predators while they forage. Agoutis have distinct territories, and might use urine or other chemical signals to mark their home range. As in other mammals, it is likely that tactile communication is important between family members, and that some visual communication, such as body postures, is used. (Dubost, 1988; Emmons, 1997)

The main foods in a Brazilian agouti’s diet are seeds and fruit, but agoutis do consume leaf, animal, and plant parts as well when seeds and fruit are hard to come by. Agoutis bury their food in caches to eat in the event of a food shortage, and play a large role in seed dispersal. When agoutis eat, they rest on their large hind feet and hold food in their forepaws. (Emmons, 1997; Henry, 1999; Silvius and V. Fragoso, 2003)

Brazilian agoutis are always on the lookout for danger, and often scavenge and travel in pairs. Such behavior might increase their ability to detect predators. Animals that prey on agoutis include large mammals such as ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and humans (Homo sapiens). Ocelots tend to hunt animals on the ground, so terrestrial agoutis are great prey animals for these cats. Even newborn agoutis are equipped with the cordination and strong legs necessary to escape from ocelots. Humans often catch agoutis for meat or pets, but aren't always successful, since agoutis are so fast and wary. Though predation risk is high, agouti populations appear to currently be stable and not overly affected by feline or human predation. (Dubost, 1988; Langenburg and Mulheisen, 2003)

Brazilian agoutis play a critical role in dispersing tree and plant seeds due to their caching behavior. Patchy distributions of certain trees are often the result of agoutis spending extended time in certain parts of their home range. Certain neotropical canopy trees, such as Hymenaea courbaril, depend upon agoutis for seed dispersal and suffer in their absence. Brazilian agoutis help disperse inedible seeds containing quinolizidine alkaloids as well, since they have such a strong drive to collect and cache seeds that they will do so even if they can not consume the seeds themselves. (Asquith et al., 1999; Dubost, 1988; Guimaraes Jr. et al., 2003; Silvius and V. Fragoso, 2003)

Brazilian agoutis are also an important link in food webs. As a prey species, availability of agoutis may affect predator populations.

Brazilian agoutis are extremely wary of people and can be difficult to catch for food or to study, but don’t seem to have any negative economic impact on humans. However, agoutis might become a problem if their forest habitats continue to be destroyed and they are forced to feed in human farms and gardens. (Emmons, 1997; Silvius and V. Fragoso, 2003)

Brazilian agoutis are fairly common and are often hunted and eaten. Along with black agoutis (Dasyprocta fuliginosa), Brazilian agoutis are often kept in captivity. However, breeding Brazilian agoutis in human-imposed enclosures is difficult since the animals need a relatively large space to court and breed, and they are very nervous around people. (Emmons, 1997; Grzimek, 1990)

Dasyprocta leporina is not listed on the IUCN list of threatened species. Though many of the habitats in which this species lives are slowly being destroyed, they appear to thrive in some human habitats. As long as they have sufficient cover, these animals do well even in disturbed habitats. Brazilian agouti populations currently appear to be stable. (Emmons, 1997; Grzimek, 2003)

Dasyprocta leporina was formerly known as D. agouti according to some sources. In addition to this species’ numerous English common names, D. leporina is known as a cutia in Brazil, a goudhaas or konkoni in Surinam, and a picure or acure in Venezuela. Since the natural histories of many agouti species are similar, D. leporina is probably most distinguishable from other species by its size, coat pattern, and geographic range. (Emmons, 1997)