Central American agouti
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The Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata) is a species of agouti from the family Dasyproctidae.[1] The main portion of its range is from Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula (southern Mexico), through Central America, to northwestern Ecuador, Colombia and far western Venezuela. A highly disjunct population is found in southeastern Peru, far southwestern Brazil, Bolivia, western Paraguay and far northwestern Argentina. The disjunct population has been treated as a separate species, the brown agouti (Dasyprocta variegata),[2] but a major review of the geographic variation is necessary.[1] The Central American agouti has also been introduced to Cuba and the Cayman Islands.[1][3]
Though some populations are reduced due to hunting and deforestation, large populations remain[2] and it is not considered threatened.[4]
In an analysis of 240 species, agoutis came in fourth place for best sense of smell; better than dogs, which actually came out average. Their snouts are packed full of olfactory receptors.[5]
Appearance
Central American agoutis from the main part of their range weigh Script error: No such module "convert". and are typically reddish, orange or yellowish grizzled with black.[2][6] In northern Colombia, western Venezuela, and on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica and Panama the foreparts are brownish or blackish grizzled with tawny or olivaceous, the mid-body is orange, and the rump is black or cream.[2][6] In western Colombia and Ecuador some have tawny foreparts and yellowish to the rump.[2] Agoutis from the disjunct southern population (Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina) which sometimes are treated as a separate species, Dasyprocta variegata, weigh Script error: No such module "convert". and are grizzled brown, yellowish and black, or grizzled black and orange.[2]
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in Ecuador
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in Guatemala
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Behavior
Like other agoutis, Central American agoutis are diurnal and live in monogamous pairs.[6] They mainly feed on fruits and seeds, and are important seed dispersers.[4]
References
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- ↑ a b c Template:MSW3 Hystricognathi
- ↑ a b c d e f Emmons, L. H. (1997). Neotropical Rainforest Mammals. Pp. 227–229. 2nd edition. Template:ISBN
- ↑ Long, J. L. (2003). Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence. Csiro Publishing, Collingwood, Australia. Template:ISBN
- ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
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- ↑ a b c Reid, F. A. (1997). Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Pp. 243–244. Template:ISBN
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External links
- Decker, J. 2000. "Dasyprocta punctata", Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 26, 2008
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