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    Dasyprocta – Agoutis

    Here comes the jungle gardeners native to the Central and South Americas!

    Members of this genus are four-legged, tailless rodents found throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean islands. They can be identified by their red or brown fur and long slender bodies. Unlike many other rodents, agoutis are diurnal; they forage and are visible during the day.

    Agoutis’ role in seed dispersal is especially important in tropical rainforests, where other large herbivores are not common. By burying seeds, they help to create a new generation of trees and plants in the region, which in turn creates habitat and food for other animals. In this way, they play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity in rainforest ecosystems.