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Azara’s agouti

Dasyprocta azarae

Azara's agouti at PZ
IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Mammals
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dasyproctidae

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

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

Interesting facts!

  • Agoutis are fairly good swimmers and can sometimes be spotted near water.
  • They are known as ‘jungle gardeners’ as they often bury nuts and seeds and forget where they put them, therefore helping new plants to grow!
  • These small mammals have teeth strong enough to open Brazil nuts.

Conservation

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