Dasyprocta azarae, Lichtenstein, 1823

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 : 460

13.

Azara’s Agouti

Dasyprocta azarae

French: Agouti de d/Azara / German: Azara-Aguti / Spanish: Aguti de Azara

Taxonomy. Dasyprocta azarae Lichtenstein, 1823 ,

“E provincia San. Paulo [= Sao Paulo] Brasil.”

A. Cabrera listed three subspecies, including the nominotypical form (with caudata P. W. Lund, 1840, and aurea E. D. Cope, 1889, as synonyms) from east-central Brazil in Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, Parana, and Mato Grosso states; catrinae O. Thomas, 1917 from the south-western Brazilian states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul; and paraguayensis Liais, 1872 (with felicia O. Thomas, 1917, as a synonym). S. Anderson in 1997 listed two subspecies in Bolivia: boliviae O. Thomas, 1917, and yungarum O. Thomas, 1910, which followingJ. L. Patton and L. H. Emmons 2015 are assigned here to azarae. G. E. Tack-Ximenes in 1999 regarded aurea and catrinae as valid species, but due to lack of comprehensive review of character variation between these species, they are assigned to azarae . Monotypic.

Distribution. SW & SC Brazil (from Bahia, Mato Grosso, and Goias states, E to the coast in Sao Paulo and S to Rio Grande do Sul states), C & E Bolivia (S of the Guaporé and E of the Benirivers), N & E Paraguay, and extreme NW & NE Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, and Misiones provinces).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 430-575 mm, tail 10-35 mm, ear 25-45 mm, hindfoot 100-120 mm; weight 2.4-3.2 kg. Azara’s Agouti is the smallest species of Dasyprocta ; it is overall gray washed, with dull tawny yellow or olivaceous to bright orange above and hairs finely banded by multiple white, yellowish, black, or orange bands. It is bright to pale orange below. Hindquarters are grayish to blackish. Body shape and tail are similar to the Common Red-rumped Agouti ( D. leporina ).

Habitat. Forest patches in savanna and lowland Atlantic Forest from sea level to elevations of ¢.700 m. Azara’s Agouti is common in cerrado habitats, especially in dense groves of Attalea (Arecaceae) palms that invade burned deforested areas. It adapts to human disturbance. In the Brazilian Pantanal, Azara’s Agouti was found most often in urucuri palm ( Attalea phalerata) forest and frequently in cerrado habitat.

Food and Feeding. Azara’s Agouti feeds mainly on fruits, seeds, and pulp of palms such as Attalea and is an important disperser of palm seeds. In the Brazilian Pantanal, it is the main consumer of Attalea seeds. During dry, winter periods of low resource availability, Azara’s Agoutis may supplement their diets with leaves and animal matter. Parana pine ( Araucaria angustifolia, Araucariaceae ) is an important food source in the southern part of its distribution during the dry winter period, for which they act as dispersers and predators. Similar to other agoutis, Azara’s Agouti scatter-hoards and caches seeds. In areas disturbed by humans,it is fond of mangos, avocados, cashews, and other domestic crops.

Breeding. Breeding of Azara’s Agouti occurs year-round, but a captive breeding study in Curitiba, Brazil, found births concentrated in August-September. Gestation lasted 100-110 days, and litters were 1-4 young, with an average of 2:1 young. Mean interval between births was 179 days. Females had estrous cycles of 34 days continually during the year. Newborns averaged 193-2 g, and there was a 1:1 sex ratio at birth.

Activity patterns. Azara’s Agouti is diurnal and terrestrial. It is most active during daylight and cool temperatures just after dawn and before nightfall.

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Anderson (1997), Cabrera (1961), Cid et al. (2013), Cope (1889), Henry (1999), lack-Ximenes (1999), Lange (1998), Liais (1872), Lund (1840), Patton & Emmons (2015a), Ribeiro & Vieira (2014), Roig (1965), Thomas (1910, 1917b), Trolle (2003), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).

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. SW & SC Brazil (from Bahia, Mato Grosso, and Goias states, E to the coast in Sao Paulo and S to Rio Grande do Sul states), C & E Bolivia (S of the Guaporé and E of the Benirivers), N & E Paraguay, and extreme NW & NE Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, and Misiones provinces).