Acouchis
| Acouchis | ||||||||||||
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Green acouchi ( Myoprocta pratti ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Myoprocta | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1903 |
The acouchis ( Myoprocta ), also known as dwarf or tailed agoutis, are a genus of mammals from the order of rodents which, together with the agoutis, form the family Agutis and Acouchis (Dasyproctidae). They are of two types:
- Red acouchi ( Myoprocta acouchy )
- Green acouchi ( Myoprocta pratti )
features
Acouchis have stocky bodies with strong legs that end in hoof-like claws and are suitable for walking. Like the agoutis, they have a single-colored coat and only three toes on their hind legs, but four functional toes and a rudimentary thumb on their front feet. Because of these common characteristics, Acouchis and Agoutis are united in the Dasyproctinae subfamily. The main differences to the agoutis are the smaller size and the longer tail.
The rough fur of the animals is reddish-black or greenish in color on the upper side, the color of the underside varies from white to brown. The muzzle and sides of the head are often bright yellow or red. The underside of the tail is white, this may be used for communication with other species. Acouchis reach a head and trunk length of 32 to 38 centimeters, a tail length of 4 to 7 centimeters and a weight of 0.6 to 1.3 kilograms.
distribution and habitat
Acouchis are restricted to northern South America east of the Andes , their distribution area extends from Colombia to the Brazilian Amazon basin . Their habitat is predominantly tropical rainforests or bushy river banks, but they are never too far from the water.
Way of life
Acouchis are usually diurnal. In areas where they are often disturbed, they switch to a nocturnal way of life. They are ground dwellers and they sleep in leaf nests in hollow tree trunks or abandoned burrows of other animals, because they cannot dig burrows themselves.
Every adult animal has its own territory, which is 6000 to 12000 square meters in size and which they usually inhabit solitary. In contrast to the agoutis, however, they are less hostile to other species.
food
Acouchis are herbivores that feed on a variety of plants and parts of plants such as fruits, leaves, nuts, and roots. In the rainy season , they set up stores by digging in parts of the food.
Reproduction
After a gestation period of around 99 days, the female gives birth to one to three (usually two) young animals. These are pronounced refugees who are hairy and are born with open eyes and can only survive if they are suckled for 14 days. Sexual maturity occurs at 8 to 12 months. The highest known age of an animal in human captivity was 10 years and life expectancy in the wild is unknown.
threat
Acouchis are occasionally hunted because they devastate plantations ; in some areas (for example among the Indians in northern Peru) their meat is also eaten. Like many other rainforest dwellers, they too are likely to suffer in some places from the ongoing destruction of their habitat. The IUCN lists both species as “not endangered” ( least concern ).
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD u. a. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
