# Red-rumped Agouti (*Dasyprocta leporina*) The Red-rumped Agouti is a cute, furry animal with a reddish-brown back and a fluffy tail. They love to eat fruits, nuts, and seeds and are great at hiding food for later! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Red-rumped Agouti](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dasyprocta_leporina_-_Buffalo_Zoo.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dave Pape, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dasyprocta_leporina_-_Buffalo_Zoo.jpg) ## Appearance The Red-rumped Agouti is a medium-sized rodent with a body resembling a large guinea pig or small deer. Its coarse fur is typically olive or blackish, with a striking reddish-orange patch on its rump, making it easy to identify. It has slender legs and small, rounded ears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Dasyproctidae - **Genus:** Dasyprocta ## Interesting facts - Agoutis are sometimes called "jungle gardeners" because they plant so many seeds. - They can stand on their hind legs to look for danger, just like a prairie dog! - They have a special pouch in their cheek to carry extra snacks for later. - When alarmed, they may stomp their feet and bark loudly to warn others! ## Special abilities - **Seed Burier:** Red-rumped Agouti can bury seeds because of their strong digging claws, which helps them store food and spread new plants. - **Nut Cracker Jaws:** Red-rumped Agouti has incredibly strong jaws and teeth that help them crack open extremely tough nuts and seeds. - **Leaping Escape:** Red-rumped Agouti can make powerful leaps, sometimes over 6 feet high, which helps them quickly escape from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-65 cm - **Weight:** 2.5-6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 100-110 days ## Diet & Feeding These forest friends love to munch on fallen fruits, nuts, and seeds from jungle plants. - **Primary Foods:** fallen fruits, nuts, seeds, leaves, roots, tubers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — A major predator, hunting agoutis in their jungle home. - **Depends on:** Brazil Nut Tree (*Bertholletia excelsa*) — Agoutis are vital for dispersing and burying its large, tough seeds. - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — This powerful cat also preys on the agouti across its range. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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 observe animals from a distance and never try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-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 Red-rumped Agouti? 45-65 cm ### How much does Red-rumped Agouti weigh? 2.5-6 kg ### How long does Red-rumped Agouti live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Red-rumped Agouti move? 55 km/h ### What does Red-rumped Agouti eat? These forest friends love to munch on fallen fruits, nuts, and seeds from jungle plants. ### Where is Red-rumped Agouti usually found? Forests ### How does Red-rumped Agouti hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Naples Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naples-zoo) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Orlando Loch Haven Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/orlando-loch-haven-park) — Florida, US · Park - [Tijuca National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tijuca-national-park) — BR · Park [View all places to see Red-rumped Agouti](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-rumped-agouti) ## 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: [Red-rumped Agouti: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-rumped-agouti)