Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
AGOUTIDAE - AGOUTIS
Two species of medium to large forest rodents with a vestigial tail. The head is large and the body cylindrical, dropping off steeply posteriorly. The ears a short with an M-shaped posterior edge. The pelage is short, straight and stiff. Agoutis habitually sit on their thighs, manipulating food with the dextrous forefeet.
Skull: Massive zygomatic arch with small slit on underside visible externally.
Agoutinae: Paca
A single large, heavyset species with four toes on the forefeet and three on the hindfeet with two reduced lateral toes.
Dasyproctinae: Agoutis
A single medium-sized, slender species with four toes on the forefeet and only three toes on the hindfeet. Two functioning teats present.
REFERENCES
Diaz MM & Barquez RM 2002 - Los Mamíferos de Jujuy, Argentina - LOLA
Emmons LH & Feer F 1999 - Mamíferos de los Bosques Húmedos de América Tropical - FAN Bolivia
Redford K 1992 - Mammals of the Neotropics Vol 2: The Southern Cone Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - University of Chicago Press.
