Lowland paca

Paka ( cuniculus paca )

Pacas ( cuniculus paca ) are a rodent species from the genus of Pacas ( cuniculus ) within the partial order of the guinea pig relatives.

Appearance

The Paka is 70 to 80 cm long, has a body height of 32 to 34cm and is called the adult animal 6 to 12 kg. It has a rough coat without undercoat, which is yellowish to white on the upper side black to dark brown and hand. It has three to five strips of white spots on the flanks. It has strong legs with four toes on the front legs and five toes on the hind legs.

Dissemination

The Paka lives in South America east of the Andes as well as in tropical and subtropical areas of Central America.

Behavior

Pacas are nocturnal and solitary. They live in forested areas near bodies of water. In case of danger they flee into this, where they can stay submerged for long periods or they remain up to half an hour without moving.

Unique among mammals is designed as a resonance body zygomatic arch of the skull. This Pacas have the ability to produce exceptionally loud sound for their size by grinding of the teeth and growl.

Pacas are herbivores. Their main diet consists of fruits and seeds. These are mostly collected in hard to reach places and eaten later at rest.

Danger situation and protection measures

The Pacas are on the Red List of endangered species by the World Conservation Union IUCN. Due to the wide distribution, presumed large population number and the occurrence in some protected areas, IUCN evaluate the manner as not threatened (Least Concern ), although local extinction events occur.

The Paka is listed in CITES Convention CITES at the instigation of Honduras in Appendix III, whereby the international trade in specimens of this country is subject to certain restrictions.