Myoprocta pratt, Thomas, 1903

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Dasyproctidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 440-461 : 461

15.

Green Acouchy

Myoprocta pratt

French: Agouti vert / German: Griines Acouchi / Spanish: Acuchi verde

Taxonomy Myoprocta pratti Pocock, 1913 ,

“Amazons.” Restricted by O. Thomas in 1920 to “Pongo de Rentema, on the [Rio] Maranon, about 78° 20° W.”

Considerable variation in color and measurable characteristics exist across the distribution of M. pratti , suggesting that it may be a complex of closely related taxa worthy of recognition at the species level. Further character analyses within coherent geographic units are required to determine the validity of recognizing multiple species within M. pratti . Monotypic.

Distribution. W Amazon Basin, from the E foothills of the Andes E to the lower Rio Negro (N of the Amazon) and to beyond ofthe Rio Madeira (S of the Amazon), in S Venezuela, SE Colombia, W Brazil, E Ecuador, E Peru, and N Bolivia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 298-383 mm, tail 40-58 mm, ear 31-37 mm, hindfoot 74-98 mm; weight 0.8-1.2 kg. Upper parts and legs of the Green Acouchy are finely grizzled olivaceous, with each hair having alternating bands ofblack and yellow; back and sides are uniform, with rump sometimes darker; and rump hairs are long but not in a fringe. Throat, chest, and midline ofbelly are white. Shape and tail of the Green Acouchy are like the Red Acouchy ( M. acouchy ).

Habitat. Mature terra firma forest, with dense undergrowth at elevations of 50-1200 m. Green Acouchys dig shallow holes that serve as nests, or otherwise use hollow logs and abandoned burrows. They prefer habitats near rivers and marshes.

Food and Feeding. Green Acouchys are herbivorous, with broad diets of fallen seeds and fruit, which they scatter-hoard in caches.

Breeding. Green Acouchys have 1-2 precocial offspring throughout the year, although a slight birth peak occurs in summer. Estrous cycle is ¢.40 days, and gestation is ¢.99 days in captive females. Sexual maturity is reached in 8-12 months. In captivity, breeding success of Green Acouchys is greatest when a female is housed with a single adult male.

Activity patterns. The Green Acouchys is diurnal, active only during the day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Green Acouchy lives in colonies, with established hierarchies. It will den in abandoned armadillo burrows and nest in hollow logs.

Status and Conservation. Classified as [Least Concern on The IUCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Catzeflis et al. (2008b), Emmons (1997a), Haugaasen et al. (2010), Kleiman (1970, 1971, 1972), Morris (1962), Munari et al. (2011), Patton & Emmons (2015a), Thomas (1920d), Weir (1971).

Figures

On following pages: 4. Roatan Island Agouti (Dasyprocta ruatanica); 5. Black Agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa); 6. Common Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina); 7. Guamara Agouti (Dasyprocta guamara); 8. Orange Agouti (Dasyprocta croconota); 9. Black-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta prymnolopha); 10. lack’s Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta iacki); 11. Brown Agouti (Dasyprocta variegata); 12. Kalinowski's Agouti (Dasyprocta kalinowskii); 13. Azara's Agouti (Dasyprocta azarae); 14. Red Acouchy (Myoprocta acouchy); 15. Green Acouchy (Myoprocta pratt).

Distribution. W Amazon Basin, from the E foothills of the Andes E to the lower Rio Negro (N of the Amazon) and to beyond ofthe Rio Madeira (S of the Amazon), in S Venezuela, SE Colombia, W Brazil, E Ecuador, E Peru, and N Bolivia.