Red-Rumped Agouti

Dasyprocta leporina

The red-rumped agouti, Dasyprocta leporina, also called the Brazilian or orange-rumped agouti, is a long-legged forest rodent from northern South America and several Caribbean islands. It has a compact body, coarse brown to olive fur, a bright reddish rump, small rounded ears, and almost no visible tail. Agoutis are active on the forest floor, often sitting upright to handle food with their forefeet. They eat fallen fruit, seeds, nuts, leaves, and roots, and their habit of burying uneaten seeds makes them important dispersers for many tropical trees.

People keep red-rumped agoutis in zoos, research colonies, and, in parts of their range, small farm or game-management settings. Captive animals do best in quiet enclosures with hiding boxes, deep litter or soil for digging, gnawing material, and enough room to avoid constant conflict. Pairs may breed readily, producing precocial young, but introductions need care because adults can be territorial. Diets should emphasize browse, vegetables, and high-fiber pellets, with energy-dense nuts and sweet fruit used sparingly.