# Black-rumped agouti (*Dasyprocta prymnolopha*) The black-rumped agouti is a small, furry animal that loves to munch on fruits and nuts. They have strong legs for running and are often seen in pairs or small groups in the wild. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Black-rumped agouti](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dasyprocta_prymnolopha.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jik jik, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dasyprocta_prymnolopha.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-rumped agouti has coarse, glossy fur that is reddish-brown over most of its body, fading to orange on its head. Its distinguishing feature is a prominent patch of long, shiny black fur covering its rump. This unique coloration helps it stand out from other agouti species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Dasyproctidae - **Genus:** Dasyprocta ## Interesting facts - Wow! Agoutis can live for over 10 years in the wild, which is a very long time for a rodent! - Wow! Agoutis often sit on their hind legs to eat, holding food with their front paws like a squirrel! - Wow! They make a loud, dog-like 'bark' when alarmed to warn other animals of danger! - Wow! When scared, they can fluff up their black rump fur to look bigger and scarier to predators! ## Special abilities - **Seed Stasher:** Black-rumped agouti can bury seeds as future snacks, effectively planting new trees that grow the forest. - **Forest Sprinter:** Black-rumped agouti can run surprisingly fast with powerful hind legs to escape predators through dense undergrowth. - **Nutcracker Jaws:** Black-rumped agouti has powerful jaws and sharp incisors that help them crack open the hardest tropical nuts. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 48-64 cm - **Weight:** 2.5-6 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 104-120 days ## Diet & Feeding These forest rodents love to munch on tasty fruits, nuts, and seeds they find on the jungle floor. - **Primary Foods:** Fruits, Nuts, Seeds, Leaves, Fungi, Roots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — A key prey animal for this powerful jungle cat. - **Depends on:** Brazil Nut Tree (*Bertholletia excelsa*) — Helps disperse and plant its large, hard-shelled seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — A frequent meal for this apex avian predator. - **Eaten by:** [Ocelot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ocelot) (*Leopardus pardalis*) — A common prey item for this smaller, spotted wild cat. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and do not try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-rumped agouti? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black-rumped agouti? 48-64 cm ### How much does Black-rumped agouti weigh? 2.5-6 kg ### How long does Black-rumped agouti live? 8-10 years ### How fast can Black-rumped agouti move? 50 km/h ### What does Black-rumped agouti eat? These forest rodents love to munch on tasty fruits, nuts, and seeds they find on the jungle floor. ### Where is Black-rumped agouti usually found? Forests ### How does Black-rumped agouti hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Black-rumped agouti: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rumped-agouti)