Azara's Agouti
Dasyprocta azarae
Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyDasyproctidae (Agoutis and Acouchis)
- GenusDasyprocta (Agoutis)
- SpeciesDasyprocta azarae (Azara's Agouti)
About the Azara's Agouti
Azara's agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) is an agouti species from the family Dasyproctidae. Found in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, it is named after Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara. The population is unknown and may have gone locally extinct in some areas due to hunting; it is listed as vulnerable in Argentina.
Despite being active during the day, Azara's agoutis are quite difficult to study, as they are naturally extremely shy and will flee and hide when humans approach. Their shyness may be related to their solitary lifestyles, but may be because they are heavily preyed upon by many carnivorous species, including humans. However, if bred in captivity, they can become trusting animals. Azara's agoutis will let out little barks when alarmed. These animals are sometimes known as "jungle gardeners", as they often bury nuts and seeds and forget where they put them, therefore helping new plants to grow.
John F. Eisenberg and Kent H. Redford. (2000). Mammals of Neotropics: Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Azara's Agouti in Iguazú National Park
LIVEiNaturalist
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iguazú National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Emas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | Iguaçu National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 5 | Chapada dos Guimarães National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Azara's Agouti in Iguazú National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Azara's Agouti sighting in Iguazú National Park, based on 137 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Azara's Agouti in Iguazú National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Azara's Agouti in Iguazú National Park in our monthly data.