Dasyprocta punctata, Gray, 1842

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 : 457

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Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

French: Agouti ponctué / German: Mittelamerika-Aguti / Spanish: Aguti de Centroamérica

Taxonomy. Dasyprocta punctata Gray, 1842 ,

“South America.” Restricted by G. G. Goodwin in 1946 to Realejo, Nicaragua.

An adequate review of geographical trends in color and cranial characteristics is required to validate any forms of D. punctata as subspecies, although regional differences in color argue for such. Three proposed subspecies are included here in synonymy of D. punctata : colombiana, chocoensis, and pandora. Dasyprocta isthmica named by E. R. Alston in 1876 is also included in the synonymy of D. punctata . Monotypic.

Distribution. From Mexico (S Chiapas and E Tabasco states, and Yucatan Peninsula) throughout Mesoamerica to N & W Colombia (including Gorgona I), W Venezuela, and NW Ecuador (S to Guayas Province). It was introduced around 1900 into Cayman Is.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 480-600 mm, tail 20-55 mm, ear 36-37 mm, hindfoot 120-156 mm; weight 3-2—4-2 kg. The Central American Agouti is medium-sized, and variation in coloration is based on geographical location, with two basic patterns. Populations from the Pacific slope of southern Mexico to Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador have warm red-brown, yellow-brown, or gray-yellow upper parts, and fur is banded with fine black striations. Populations from the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica, Panama, and northern Colombia have brown to blackish foreparts, finely grizzled tawny or olivaceous; crown and nape are often blackish; mid-body has band of brighter, orangebanded hair; and long, black rump hairs have long yellow-to-white tips. Long hairs overhang rump as a fringe.

Habitat. Mature and secondary lowland, montane rainforest and deciduous forest, and gardens and plantations up to elevations of ¢.1500 m in South American and in lowlands to ¢.2400 m in Mesoamerica. Central American Agoutis are closely associated with water and are often found along banks of streams,rivers, and lakes. They often build dens and numerous sleeping spots in hollow logs, among limestone boulders, under roots oftrees or other vegetation.

Food and Feeding. The Central American Agouti feeds on seeds, fruit, and cotyledons of seedlings, supplemented by fungi, flowers, leaves, and insects. Like many species of Dasyprocta , the Central American Agouti is an important seed disperser for plants such as Dipteryx panamensis ( Fabaceae ), Persea spp. (Lauraceae) , and Attalea spp. (Arecaceae) . When food is abundant,it carefully buries seeds to use as them food when fruit is scarce or not in season (scatter-hoarding).

Breeding. Central American Agoutis are monogamous and breed throughout the year, although most young are born in March—July when fruit is most abundant. Individuals in some populations mate twice a year. In captivity, they are capable of breeding and producing young in every month of the year. Minimum interbirth interval of the Central American Agouti is 127 days, and gestation lasts 104-120 days. Litters normally contain 1-2 young, but 3-4 young have been recorded in captivity. Newborn young live by themselves in a burrow that the mother does not enter; she calls them out for nursing or care. As offspring grow, the mother relocates herlitter to a larger den. The female has her own den apart from the young.

Activity patterns. The Central American Agouti is diurnal; peak activity occurs shortly after dawn andjust before dusk. Some nocturnal activity has been reported, which may be attributed to risk of predation and starvation. When alarmed, individuals stamp their feet and emit short series of calls, each consisting of a few low grunts followed by a sharp bark.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Basic social unit of the Central American Agouti a monogamous pair that lives together in a territory, but the pair does not usually travel together. Home ranges arel-6-2-4 ha for males and 1-3-2 ha for females, with overlapping home ranges ranges. Adults den at night in hollow logs.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix III (Honduras). Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Central American Agouti is hunted for food throughout its distribution.

Bibliography. Aliaga-Rossel et al. (2008), Alston (1876), Emmons (1997a), Gélvez et al. (2009), Goodwin (1946), Lambert et al. (2009), Meritt (1983), Morris (1962), Murie (1977), Patton & Emmons (2015a), Reid (2009), Smythe (1970a, 1970b, 1978), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).

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. From Mexico (S Chiapas and E Tabasco states, and Yucatan Peninsula) throughout Mesoamerica to N & W Colombia (including Gorgona I), W Venezuela, and NW Ecuador (S to Guayas Province). It was introduced around 1900 into Cayman Is.