Azara's Agouti

Habitat

Named after Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara, agoutis are found in forests across countries in South America, such as Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Wild Diet

They are herbivores, feeding on fruits, seeds and plants.

Behaviour

Agoutis are usually solitary and are extremely shy, spending their time during the day looking for food and hiding from predators. This animal is also a fairly good swimmer, and can sometimes be spotted near water.
They are sometimes known as "jungle gardeners", as they often bury nuts and seeds and forget where they put them, therefore helping new plants to grow.

Breeding

After a gestation period of around three months, females give birth to two to four pups.

Conservation

There is not currently any specific data on the current population size of the Azara's agouti, though it is understood that numbers are decreasing due to habitat loss and hunting.