“Oh how sweet!” That is the first reaction of our guests when they see agoutis. Agoutis belong to the rodent order (suborder guinea pigs) and look like large, long-legged guinea pigs. There can be up to 11 different species that live distributed in South and Central America. The thin hind legs are longer than the front legs, making them more agile when escaping predators. Agoutis have a brown to reddish coat color, their belly is lighter and white to yellowish in color. Their head is relatively large compared to the body, with large eyes and rounded ears. From head to torso, they reach a length of up to 24 inches and weigh 3 to 9 pounds. Their tail is barely pronounced. The little rodents unbelievably can live up to 20 years.
Agoutis are diurnal and relatively shy. They live exclusively on the ground and can run very quickly thanks to their thin and long but strong legs. When threatened it almost seems as if they gallop. At night, the small animals hide in dense bushes, hollow tree trunks or in burrows. Agoutis are solitary animals, but they also occur in larger groups. They bravely defend their territory against rivals. The rodents are on the menu of ocelots, jaguars and other predators, therefore, a good nocturnal hiding place is essential.
Agutis themselves are herbivores with fruits and nuts are at the top of their diet but they also eat leaves, stems, and roots. They roam their territory every day in search of nutritious food and their good ears can hear fruit falling on the ground. With sharp incisor teeth they can even nibble on hard Brazil nuts which they sometimes even bury for bad times which in turn helps to spread this tree species. To eat, agoutis sit on their hind legs and hold their food in place with their front paws.
The little rodents are ready to mate all year round. If a suitable pair has been found they begin an interesting mating ritual. The male splashes the female with urine after which the female begins to “dance”. The two repeat this several times until mating finally occurs. After about 110 days, between 1 and 3 young are born. Their eyes are instantly open and they already have fur. Within a few hours they are on their feet and exploring their new home. The mother now takes care of the little ones for about 5 months, then they are weaned and become independent. However, they stay with their mother until she becomes pregnant again and their father chases them away so that they can find their own territories.
The agoutis are not immune to the increasing destruction of the rainforest by humans and 5 of the 13 agouti species are now on the IUCN red list. In Costa Rica, however, you still have a pretty good chance of observing the cute rodent in the wild. You have an almost 100% chance in the Ecocentro Danaus.
We are your contacts for a successful stay in Costa Rica and look forward to your inquiries: info@costaricainsider.com
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