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| Lowland paca[1] | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cuniculidae |
| Genus: | Cuniculus |
| Species: | C. paca |
| Binomial name | |
| Cuniculus paca | |
_paca_Cuniculus_paca_distribution_map.png) | |
| Lowland paca range[2] | |
| Synonyms | |
Mus pacaLinnaeus, 1766 | |
Thelowland paca (Cuniculus paca), also known as thespotted paca, is a large rodent found intropical andsub-tropicalAmerica, from east-centralMexico to northernArgentina, and has been introduced toCuba andAlgeria.[4][citation needed]
The animal is calledpaca in most of its range, buttepezcuintle (original Aztec language name) in most ofMexico and Central America,tepesquintle in Guatemala,guardatinaja inNicaragua,pisquinte in northernCosta Rica,tepezcuinte in southern Costa Rica,jaleb in the Yucatán peninsula,conejo pintado inPanama,guanta inEcuador,majás orpicuro inPeru,jochi pintado inBolivia, andboruga,[5]tinajo,[6] orguartinaja inColombia. It is also known as thegibnut inBelize, where it is prized as agame animal,labba inGuyana,lapa in Venezuela, andlappe on the island ofTrinidad. Although lowland pacas are not in danger of being extinct, local extinctions have occurred due tohabitat destruction.
There is much confusion in the nomenclature of this and related species; seeagouti. In particular, the popular termagouti orcommon agouti normally refers to species of the distinct genusDasyprocta (such as theCentral American agouti,Dasyprocta punctata). Sometimes the wordagouti is also used for apolyphyletic grouping uniting the familiesCuniculidae andDasyproctidae, which, besides the pacas and common agoutis, includes also theacouchis (Myoprocta).Cuniculus is the appropriate genus name instead ofAgouti based on a 1998 ruling of theInternational Commission on Zoological Nomenclature as the lowland paca's genus.[7]
The wordpaca comes from a word in theTupi language that designates the animal but also means 'awaken, alert'.[8][9]Tepezcuintle is ofNahuatl origin, meaning 'mountain-dog', fromtepetl, 'mountain' +itzquintli, 'dog'.
_Cuniculus_paca.jpg)
The lowland paca has coarse fur without underfur, dark brown to black on the upper body and white or yellowish on the underbelly. It usually has three to five rows of white spots along its sides, against a dark grey background. It has thick strong legs, with four digits in the forefeet and five in the hind feet (the first and fifth are reduced); the nails function as hooves. The tail is short and hairless. Thezygomatic arch is expanded laterally and dorsally and is used as aresonating chamber - a unique feature among mammals.
An adult lowland paca weighs between 6 and 12 kilograms (13 and 26 lb). Each litter has one young lowland paca, sometimes two. They usually have one to three young a year with a gestation period of about 115–120 days. Pacas are sexually mature at about 1 year. A paca usually lives up to 13 years.
The lowland paca can carryleishmaniasis andtrypanosomiasis.[10]
The lowland paca is mostly nocturnal and solitary and does not vocalize very much. It lives in forested habitats near water, preferably smaller rivers, and dig simple burrows about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) below the surface, usually with more than one exit. It can also sometimes live in burrows created by other animals. The lowland paca is a good swimmer and usually heads for the water to escape danger, as it can stay under water for several minutes.
The lowland paca can be considered an important seed distributor, since its diet includes leaves, stems, roots, tubers, nuts,[11] seeds, herbs[11] and fruit, especiallyavocados,mangos andzapotes, as well ascoco macaque,balata, wild chataigne,hog plum,pomerac andguava.[11] Introduced species such as jack-fruit and buri are also eaten.[12] It sometimes stores food. Lowland paca also havenecrophagous behavior, consuming carcasses of decomposing animals, possibly to supply protein demands of their diet.[13]
The lowland paca is considered an agricultural pest foryam,cassava,sugar cane,maize and other food crops. Its meat is highly prized. It is plentiful in protected habitats, and hence not in danger of extinction, but overall its numbers have been much reduced because of hunting andhabitat destruction. It is easily bred and raised in farms,[14] although the taste is said to be inferior (perhaps unpleasant) when farmed. Some of the lowland paca predators includeocelots,jaguars,coyotes,bush dogs,crocodiles, andboa constrictors.
