🔍 Central American Agouti | Dasyprocta punctata 🐾
📍 Zoo Ave, La Garita, Alajuela, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
💬 Agoutis are one of the few animals strong enough to crack open a Brazil nut shell — making them a critical seed disperser for tropical forests. They even bury seeds like squirrels do, and often forget them, accidentally planting new trees!
Fauna
Central American Agouti | Dasyprocta punctata
Basic ID
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Coloration
Reddish-brown to dark brown fur with a glossy sheen on the rump
Lifespan
Up to 20 years in captivity, 6–7 years in the wild
Size
Length
41–62 cm
Weight
2.9–4 kg
Wingspan
Habitat & Behavior
Native Range
Southern Mexico to northwestern Ecuador and Venezuela
Habitat Type
Tropical and subtropical forests, forest edges, and cultivated areas
Diet
Seeds, nuts, fruits, and roots
Activity Pattern
Diurnal
Sources: IUCN Red List · Encyclopedia of Life · GBIF · Catalogue of Life