Dasyprocta variegata, 1845

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 : 459-460

11.

Brown Agouti

Dasyprocta variegata

French: Agouti brun / German: Vielfarbiges Aguti / Spanish: Aguti marron

Taxonomy. Dasyprocta variegata Tschudi, 1845 ,

“die Granze der obern Wald- und Cejaregion bis zu 6000’ ii. M. [= the boundary of the upperforestand Ceja region, up to 6000 feet],” Chanchamayo region, Junin, Peru.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W Amazon Basin in C & E Peru (from Junin Department to the E) and W Brazil (upper Rio Purus and Rio Madeira drainages) to N Bolivia (Pando and Beni departments).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 445— 540 mm, tail 11-38 mm, ear 41-45 mm, hindfoot 94-120 mm; weight 3.5-2 kg. The Brown Agouti is small but a heavybodied species of Dasyprocta . Upper parts are finely grizzled black and tawny yellow, brown and yellowish, or black and orange, giving overall appearance of blackish, washed with tawny, plain brown, or orange from a distance. Head is often blackish, and midline of black is usually darker than sides. Feet are dark brown, except in orange individuals. Chin, throat, and often midline of venter are white. Acrossits distribution, the Brown Agouti is paler from north to south and more orange from east to west.

Habitat. Mature, disturbed, and secondary forest and in gardens and plantations. Brown Agoutis seems to be most numerous in terra firma forest with many Brazil nut trees ( Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae ) or Attalea (Arecaceae) palms.

Food and Feeding. The Brown Agouti eats fruits and nuts. It contributes to spatial association and genetic structure in tree species, particularly Attalea and Astrocaryum palms, by its scatter-hoarding behavior.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. Brown Agoutis are primarily diurnal, but some activity extends into twilight hours. They sleep at night under fallen brush and in hollow logs. Individuals prefer areas of forest with dense understory thickets, especially around fallen trees. When alarmed, they rush away, stamping their feet and emitting a series of low grunts or repeated nasal barks.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Brown Agouti has dense populations close to Brazil nut trees, as do other species of Dasyprocta .

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under D. punctata ).

Bibliography. Choo et al. (2012), Emmons (1997a), Gomez et al. (2005), Patton & Emmons (2015a), Peres & Baider (1997).

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 in C & E Peru (from Junin Department to the E) and W Brazil (upper Rio Purus and Rio Madeira drainages) to N Bolivia (Pando and Beni departments).