Dasyprocta croconota, Wagler, 1831

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Dasyproctidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 440-461 : 459

8.

Orange Agouti

Dasyprocta croconota

French: Agouti a croupe orange / German: Orangefarbenes Aguti / Spanish: Aguti naranja

Taxonomy. Dasyprocta croconota Wagler, 1831 ,

“Brasilia ad flumen Amazonum.” Emended by G. E. Iack-Ximenes in 1999 to Santarém, Rio Tapajos, Para, Brazil.

O. Thomas in 1923 previously recognized D. croconota as a subspecies of D. agut: ( D. leporina herein). Until recently, D. croconota was listed as a subspecies or a synonym of D. aguti (= D. leporina ). lack-Ximenes in 1999 presented D. croconota and D. leporina as distinct species due to distinct character differences and broadly overlapping distributions. Future molecular analysis will determine if these two species are distinct, or if D. croconota are part of a color polymorphism present within the population of D. leporina . Monotypic.

Distribution. E Brazilian Amazon S of the Amazon River, from the lower Rio Tapajos to the left margin of the lower Rio Tocantins, and on Marajo and Mexiana Is at the river mouth.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 465-560 mm, tail 10-25 mm, ear 40-45 mm, hindfoot 105-110 mm; weight 2:2.2-8 kg. The Orange Agouti is small and distinguished from other species of Dasyprocta by bright orange coloring over hindquarters and rump and general absence of black or brown pigment on hindquarters. Forequarters of the Orange Agouti are gray; rump and flanks are bright pale orange; and hairs on flanks have few dark bands. Mid-back has well-marked dorsal streak.

Habitat. Lowland rainforest, including second growth and forest edge, within the Floresta Ombrofila Densa (tropical moist forest) vegetative cover type from sea level to elevations of ¢.200 m. On Marajo Island, Orange Agoutis were found in coastal vegetation, a mixture of forest, shrubs, and planted trees.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. There has been no research on the Orange Agouti , at least under the name D. croconota .

Bibliography. Carvalho et al. (2014), lack-Ximenes (1999), Patton & Emmons (2015a), Thomas (1923a).

Figures

On following pages: 4. Roatan Island Agouti (Dasyprocta ruatanica); 5. Black Agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa); 6. Common Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina); 7. Guamara Agouti (Dasyprocta guamara); 8. Orange Agouti (Dasyprocta croconota); 9. Black-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta prymnolopha); 10. lack’s Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta iacki); 11. Brown Agouti (Dasyprocta variegata); 12. Kalinowski's Agouti (Dasyprocta kalinowskii); 13. Azara's Agouti (Dasyprocta azarae); 14. Red Acouchy (Myoprocta acouchy); 15. Green Acouchy (Myoprocta pratt).

Distribution. E Brazilian Amazon S of the Amazon River, from the lower Rio Tapajos to the left margin of the lower Rio Tocantins, and on Marajo and Mexiana Is at the river mouth.