Brown Agouti

About the Brown Agouti

The brown agouti (Dasyprocta variegata) is a species of agouti in the family Dasyproctidae that is native to portions of central or southeastern Peru, east to western Brazil (specifically within the administrative divisions of Acre, Amazonas, and Rondônia), south to a strip of Bolivia. It was originally regarded as conspecific with the Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), but revised as distinct.

The brown agouti has an orange-brown body, with an average length of 61 cm (24.01 in), and a weight of 1.8 kg (3.96 lbs). Dark head, rump, and midline of the back. Peruvian individuals have a fairly different and distinctive coloration (see text below). The species is commonly preyed upon by the South American jaguar.

The brown agouti is known to reside near Brazil nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa) in forested cover, and around gardens, or plantations. The brown agouti was previously regarded as a subspecies of the Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), but has now been elevated to species status, for multivariate statistical analysis and morphological differences have revealed such. Although there is evidence for a species elevation, most authorities still... Wikipedia →