Black Agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa) lives in tropical rainforest across Central and South America. It feeds on fruits and seeds. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Black Agouti
- A separate group of black agoutis lives far from the Amazon, tucked into the Magdalena River Valley of northern Colombia. This isolated population is apart from the main north-western Amazon range.
- Black agoutis are found at elevations of 2,000 metres and higher. In these high-altitude zones they inhabit forested areas, often close to water on the banks of streams. Their distribution includes the low selva zone and many parts of the high selva zone in Peru, where they remain above the 2,000-metre line. This altitude preference links them to cooler, montane forest environments.
- The black agouti weighs between 3.5 and 6 kg. Individuals of this size forage on fruits and nuts during daylight hours, either alone or in pairs. Their body mass supports a diet of hard-shelled seeds, which they can crack with strong jaws. This weight range is typical for the species across its varied habitats.
- Female black agoutis can breed throughout the entire year and may go through more than one estrus period in a single season. Each fertile window is brief, lasting only about 24 hours, while the complete estrous cycle spans 30 to 34 days. After mating, the gestation lasts roughly 104 days, after which the mother typically gives birth to two young. This reproductive pattern allows the species to maintain its numbers despite the challenges of its forest environment.
- In areas where suitable ground is available, black agoutis excavate burrows among limestone boulders, along river banks, or beneath the roots of trees. They are diurnal mammals that usually live alone or in pairs and spend much of their day foraging for fruits and nuts. Their habit of staying close to water means these burrows are often found on the banks of streams, providing easy access to both shelter and food sources.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeCentral and South America
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietFruits and seeds
About the Black Agouti
In the dappled light of the tropical forest, the black agouti moves with purpose, its sleek, ebony fur glistening as it navigates the underbrush with a quiet confidence. With each deliberate step, its long, sharp claws grasp and release the forest floor, allowing it to traverse the dense thicket with ease, as if gliding across the landscape. As it forages for fruit and seeds, its large, dark eyes shine with a keen intelligence, a testament to the remarkable adaptability of this resilient creature.
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