Acouchi

Green Acouchi ( Myoprocta pratti )

The Acouchis ( Myoprocta ), also known as dwarf or tailed agoutis, are a mammalian genus from the order of rodents, which jointly with the agoutis the family agoutis and Acouchis ( Dasyproctidae ). It is with them two ways:

• Red Acouchi ( Myoprocta acouchy )
• Green Acouchi ( Myoprocta pratti )

Features

Acouchis have stocky bodies with strong legs that are forming in hufartigen claws and ideal for running. As the agoutis, they have a coat of one color and only three functional toes on the forefeet. Because of these common features Acouchis and agoutis are united in the subfamily Dasyproctinae. The differences to the agoutis are mainly in the smaller size and longer tail.

The rough coat of the animal is reddish - black or greenish at the top, the color of the bottom varies from white to brown. The snout and sides of the head are often bright yellow or red. The underside of the tail is white, this is possibly the communication with conspecifics. Acouchis reach a head -body length 32-38 cm, a tail length of 4 to 7 centimeters and a weight of 0.6 to 1.3 kilograms.

Distribution and habitat

Acouchis are restricted to northern South America east of the Andes, their range extends from Colombia to in the Brazilian Amazon basin. Their habitat is mainly rain forests or bush -lined river banks, but they never stray too far from the water.

Way of life

Acouchis are diurnal in the rule. In areas where they are often disturbed, they switch to a nocturnal lifestyle. They are bottom dwellers and as sleeping places serve them leaves nests in hollow logs or abandoned burrows of other animals, because they themselves can not dig burrows.

Each adult animal has its own territory, which is 6000-12000 square meters in size and they inhabit solitary usually. However, in contrast to the agoutis they react less hostile to other dogs.

Food

Acouchis are herbivores that feed on a variety of plants and plant parts such as fruits, leaves, nuts and roots. In the rainy season they create stockpile by burying parts of the food.

Reproduction

After about 99 days of gestation, the female gives birth to one to three (usually two ) pups. These are pronounced precocial, the hairy and come with open eyes to the world and can only survive if they are suckled for 14 days. Sexual maturity occurs at 8-12 months. The highest known age of an animal in human captivity was 10 years life expectancy in the wild is not known.

Threat

Acouchis are occasionally hunted, because they devastate plantations in some areas ( for example, when the Indians in northern Peru) is also eaten her flesh. Like many other rainforest dwellers are also likely to suffer from it in some of the progressive destruction of their habitat. However, the IUCN lists both species as " not at risk " ( least concern ).