Diet

What does the Azara’s Agouti eat?

These animals are herbivores. Their diet is made up of seeds, shoots, leaves, fruit and plant material.

They are able to break through the shells of hard nuts as a result of their large teeth. This is one of the few species which can break through the hard shell of a Brazil nut.

When food is abundance they have been seen to collect excess and hide it. Occasionally this is hidden and the agouti forgets about it which can allow new plants to grow in the forest. This practice has given rise to the nickname, ‘gardeners of the forest.’

As they eat they will sit back on to their hind legs and hold the food in their front legs.

Learn more about the Azara’s Agouti in this video from Banham Zoo on YouTube

Range

Where do you find the Azara’s Agouti?

South America is the native home of the Azara’s agouti. Here they can be found in the following countries – Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil and Paraguay.

Habitat

Where can the Azara’s Agouti survive?

The Azara’s agouti is found in patches within savannah and lowland forest.

These animals seek out shelter and are considered shy. They will be seen hiding in tree hollows or burrows which they will dig in to the ground.

Credit: Public Domain

Reproduction

How does the Azara’s Agouti produce its young?

Azara’s agouti pairs will remain together for life meaning the species is considered monogamous.

After a gestation period of 90 days the female will produce 2-4 young. Females give birth in their burrow and remain there until the young are ready to leave.

Breeding takes place year round but a peak is observed during September and August.

Behavior

What does the Azara’s Agouti do during its day?

When threatened this species will vocalize a low bark.

This species is active during the day when it will look for food.

They are able swimmers and will use this to move through their habitat.

Credit: Public Domain

Predators and Threats

What stops the Azara’s Agouti from surviving and thriving?

Natural predators of this species include cats such as the jaguar.

When spotted by a predator these animals will freeze. If they are spotted they raise long hairs on their rump in hopes of scaring off the the predators.

When threatened they will freeze in hopes of not being spotted by the threat. At present not enough scientific information is available for the IUCN to classify this species.

Populations of the Azara’s agouti are decreasing. They are hunted and this could be leading to localized extinctions in some areas. Their habitat is also facing habitat loss.

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Quick facts

The name of this species is taken from a Spanish naturalist, Félix de Azara.

This species was first described for modern science during 1823.

Credit: Iveraldo Luiz Athanazio, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons