Cuniculus – Pacas

At first glance, they might remind you of oversized guinea pigs or rabbits, but they are unique in many ways. Pacas are chunky-bodied animals with short legs, large heads, and smooth, glossy coats patterned with distinctive rows of white spots and stripes running along their brownish backs and sides. This spotty design isn’t just pretty—it’s excellent camouflage in the dappled moonlight of the forest understory, where these shy creatures spend most of their time.

One of the most striking features of Cuniculus is its semi-aquatic lifestyle, which makes it different from many other rodents. Pacas are excellent swimmers, and when threatened, they often dive into rivers or ponds, where they can remain underwater for several minutes to escape predators. They live near forest streams, rivers, and swamps, building burrows into riverbanks or under roots for shelter. Their burrows often have multiple entrances, including one underwater “escape hatch,” which shows just how clever and cautious these animals can be.

Diet-wise, pacas are primarily herbivores, feeding on fruits, nuts, roots, and tubers. They play a crucial role as seed dispersers, since they carry fruits away from trees and either eat them or bury them, leaving behind seeds that can sprout into new plants. In this way, Cuniculus species are important gardeners in tropical forests. Unlike squirrels that scatter-hoard many seeds, pacas are selective feeders, preferring large, fleshy fruits like avocados or mangos. Their strong jaws and chisel-like teeth let them gnaw through tough shells and rinds easily.

And of course, there are fun and quirky facts about pacas. Their meat has historically been considered a delicacy in some regions, making them an important subsistence food, though this has also led to overhunting in certain areas.