Agouti
Size
Agoutis are medium-sized rodents that typically grow to be 19 to 25 inches (49 to 64 cm) in length and weigh between 6.6 and 13 pounds (3 to 6 kg). Females are generally larger than males.
Habitat and Distribution
They are found in tropical rainforests, savannas and forested areas across Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.
Age
They can live between 15 – 20 years in captivity.
Diet
Agoutis are primarily frugivorous rodents (usually only eating fruits). Their diet consists of fallen fruits, seeds, nuts (especially Brazil nuts), leaves and roots. They are opportunistic and can also consume insects, crabs, eggs, and small animals when food is scarce.
Groups and Breeding
While they may gather in groups of up to 100 to feed, they are typically solitary or live in pairs. Agoutis are generally socially monogamous, forming long-term male-female pairs that share and defend a territory.
Threats
Agoutis face significant threats in the wild, primarily driven by human activity and natural predation. While some species, such as the red-rumped agouti, are listed as Least Concern due to their adaptability, others like the Mexican agouti are critically endangered. As for the Azara’s species, which is the species we are home to, according to the IUCN red list, their numbers are decreasing in the wild.
Interesting Facts
Agoutis are South American rodents known as “rainforest gardeners” because they are the only animals capable of cracking open the rock-hard seed pods of Brazil nuts, using their sharp, constantly growing teeth, They cache excess food by burying it, and their forgotten seeds grow into new trees.
During Your Day Out in Kent
Here at the park, we have two Azara’s agouti’s; they can be found in the squirrel monkey enclosure in the ‘Rainforest SOS’ section.