|
Range and Habitat: Widely distributed in Central and South America and range from Southern Mexico through Central America with the southern portion of their range in Paraguay and northern Argentina. They live:
- In forests, thick brush, savannahs and cultivated areas
- Close to water and are found on the banks of all types of streams, constructing burrows among limestone boulders, along riverbanks, or under roots of trees
Habits and Adaptations: They are active during the day but shift their activities to night hours if they are molested by people. Terrestrial, they walk, trot or gallop on their digits and can jump vertically at least six feet from a standing position. Each animal has several sleeping spots, usually located in hollow logs, among tree roots or under tangled vegetation. Adults are mostly seen in pairs or small groups. The pair bond apparently lasts until death. Males aggressively defend their territory from intruding males.
Diet: Mainly feed on fruits and nuts. They follow bands of monkeys and pick up fruit dropped from the trees. It is said they can hear fruit falling from far away. They also eat vegetables and succulent plants. They eat sitting on their hind legs, holding the food in their forepaws. They turn the fruit around several times to thoroughly peel it with their teeth. When food is abundant, Agoutis carefully bury surplus for harder times. This habit of seed burial is important for the dispersal of seeds of many fruit trees. The Brazil nut is especially chosen. Brazil nuts as we know them are placed, often up to 20, inside another larger shell called cocos. This shell is extraordinarily firm and Agoutis seem to be the only animal capable of opening the Brazil nut cocos. The nuts that can’t be eaten immediately are buried by the Agoutis. The seeds are dispersed over a wide range and the nuts that are forgotten grow to be giant trees.
Breeding and Maturation: Agouti have young year round, but the majority are from March to July corresponding to when fruit is abundant. During courtship, the male sprays the female with urine, causing her to go into a “frenzy dance”. After several sprays she allows the male to approach. Usually two young are born after a gestation period of 104 - 120 days. The young are fully furred, have their eyes open and are able to run in their first hour of life. The mother nurses the young for 20 weeks.
The female digs caves for the young or brings them to old lairs used previously. Often these dens are the exact size of the young. The young are placed in their own burrow and are called out for nursing when the mother visits. The mother has a den elsewhere. As the offspring grow, the mother brings them to the next bigger den. The young start to dig on their own at an early age and carry nesting material to their den. Development is rapid and by 12 weeks solid food consumption exceeds consumption from the mother.
Agoutis reach sexual maturity at six months of age and the parents become increasingly intolerant of their presence. The male will chase away their male offspring who then find a territory and a female partner of their own. The oldest recorded life span in captivity is 18 years.
|