Agoutis (Genus Dasyprocta) - Masters of the Brazil nut

With a little imagination you can guess the Agoutis' kinship: These rodents are relatives of the well-known Guinea pigs. But they are larger, more long-legged and more slender. Several species are known. They don't differ much in size and physique, but in fur colour. The best-known species are the Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), the Black agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa) and the Golden agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), which is shown on the photo. Agoutis are up to 50 cm long and weigh about 3,5 kg. There's something special about their physique; while the front part of their body is quite slender, the rear part is more bulky. This kind of physique is an adaptation to living among the undergrowth and reveals that Agoutis are inhabitants of forests. Many smaller mammals inhabiting forests are of such a physique, e.g. some small ungulates like Duikers (Cephalophinae) and Mouse deer (Tragulidae).

Agoutis inhabit forests of Central and South America. They live in pairs in regular territories. Under natural conditions Agoutis are active during the day, but change to nocturnal activity in regions where they are hunted. The pups are born during the time of the year, when many ripe fruits are available. In most cases females give birth to twins, but there's often just one young surviving. As it is the custom with Guinea pigs and their kinship, newborn Agoutis are well developed, with complete fur, are able to hear and see and run around right from the beginning. Since young Agoutis are threatened by many predators, they lead a hidden life. Their mother digs small ground holes for them, which fit the sizes of the young. If the hole is getting too small for the growing pup, a larger one is dug. Soon the young Agoutis will start digging holes themselves. When about half a year old, Agoutis reach sexual maturity. At that time their parents are getting more and more intolerant of them. Especially the adult males start driving away their sons, who have to find a territory and a female partner.

The Agoutis' favourite food are fruits. They use to wander about within their territories searching for them. Agoutis seem to know, which trees are fruit-bearing and patrol those most of all. Their ability to hear is very well developed; they can recognize the sounds of falling fruits from a distance. Agoutis take fruits between their front paws and open the skins and shells by nibbling at them while they are turning them around and around. A very special fruit on the Agoutis' menu is the Brazil nut, which isn't only regarded highly by Agoutis but also by man. Brazil nuts as we know them are placed - often up to 20 - inside another larger shell called cocos. This shell is extraordinarily firm. Agoutis seem to be the only animals, which are able to open the Brazil nut cocos with their sharp teeth. Those Brazil nuts, that can't be eaten immediately, are buried by the Agoutis. The seeds are dispersed over a wide range. The Agoutis' sense of direction is amazing. It makes it possible to find again the buried nuts after a while. But even the most conscientious Agouti might forget one or other of them. With a lot of luck the forgotten Brazil nut has the chance to grow to a giant tree, up to 60 metres high and 500 years old. The distribution of Brazil nut trees is quite dispersed and they can't be cultivated on plantations. So the Brazil nut is really a native rainforest fruit and the fact that we are able to buy it in our supermarkets is for the largest part due to a small, rather inconspicuous rodent - the Agouti.

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