Azara's Agouti

## About

An Azara's agouti.

The Azara's agouti ***(Dasyprotca azarae)*** (pronounced AG-OO-TEE) a species of large rodent native to eastern South America and named Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara (1746-1821). Agoutis have large bodies and blocky heads with small ears, eyes and slender legs. They are brownish grey or yellow-grey across the majority of their bodies, except for their heads and faces, which are a faint orange tone and their underbellies which are usually a yellow or orange colour around the chest. Sometimes, a faint black or deep grey speckling is evident on the coat. The hair is coarse and short. The nose, ears, short tail and the area around the eyes are bare, with visible dull pinkish flesh. Agoutis have long legs and long hoof-like toes. They often sit on their hind legs while idle or eating. According to Onçafari, the Azara's agouti can grow to 49-64cm (19-25in) and can weigh up to 1.5-5kg (3.3-11lbs).

## Diet

The Azara's agouti spends most of the time foraging for sprouts, seeds, nuts, fallen fruits, vegetables or nuts. Agoutis are notable among South American wildlife in that they proactively and accidently germinate the forest through burying seeds and nuts to eat later, before forgetting, resulting in tree growth. A particularly favourable food item of the agouti is the Brazil nut ***(Bertholetta excelsa)***, which is cracks open using its strong jaws and powerful incisors. While eating, the Azara's agouti sits on its hind legs and feeds the food into its mouth with its dexterous paws.

## Conservation Status

Very little is known about the Azara's agouti's threats however, hunting is suspected to have already caused local extinctions in the species' range. They are currently listed as data deficient by the IUCN however, in Argentina they are classed as vulnerable.

## Range and Population

THe Azara's agouti occurs across an area which encompasses southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, an area of north Bolivia and a very small area of central Brazil. They inhabit rainforests and montane forests at elevations of up to 700m (2,296ft), but may also occur in lowlands, particularly clearings or areas with substantial forest cover. They can often be found in burrows and dens. The population of the Azara's agouti is currently unquantified, but considered to be decreasing.

## Behaviour

Little is known about the behavioural characteristics of the Azara's agouti, as the species is naturally enigmatic and flees when approached. Agoutis are typically solitary animals however, may form small groups. They communicate chemically through scent marking to define bountiful foraging areas. The Azara's agouti often establishes a home range which can be up to 2-3ha (3-5ac) in size. In this home range an agouti will always use the same routes, trails and areas of foraging and sleeping. Agoutis usually situate their home ranges near a water source, not only to utilise as a source of hydration, but as an escape route from predators, as agoutis have been known to flee from threats via swimming away. Azara's agoutis produce a short barking noise when threatened before running away, but may also freeze in an attempt to avoid detection from more serious threats such as jaguars ***(Panthera onca)***. When an agouti is threatened by a more manageable threat such as an aggressive agouti, they will raise their long rump hairs in order to seem larger and more threatening. Azara's agoutis are monogamous and breed year round and gestation can last between 100-120 days, with most births being concentrated from August-September. A litter of 2-4 pups is produced, after which they will stay with their parents until maturation. Pups are born with their eyes open and hide from predators in dens, tree hollows and burrows before they mature.

### Relationship with Humans

The Azara's agouti is widely hunted by people across their range as a food source.

## In Captivity

The Azara's agouti can be found in multiple zoological institutes across Europe and North America and is a prolific captive breeder.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6278/22198654
* Azara's Agouti | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azara%27s\_agouti
* Agouti | Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/animal/agouti#ref756220
* Azara's Agouti | Onçafari - https://oncafari.org/en/especie\_fauna/azaras-agouti/
* Azara's Agouti | Edinburgh Zoo - https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals-and-experiences/animals/azaras-agouti/
* Agouti | Yorkshire Wildlife Park - https://www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com/things-to-do/animals/agouti/
* Azara's Agouti | Zoo Institutes - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/azaras-agouti-2320/
* Dasyprocta azarae Liechtenstein, 1823 | Global Biodiversity Information Facility - https://www.gbif.org/species/2437582
* Azara's Agouti | Folly Farm - https://www.folly-farm.co.uk/zoo/meet-the-zoo-animals/azaras-agouti/