| Acouchi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Green acouchi | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Dasyproctidae |
| Genus: | Myoprocta Thomas, 1903 |
| Type species | |
| Cavia acouchy Erxleben, 1777 | |
| Species | |
Theacouchis (genusMyoprocta) arerodents belonging to the familyDasyproctidae[1] from theAmazon basin. They are generally smaller thanagoutis and have very short tails (5 to 7 cm), while agoutis lack tails.[2] For this reason the acouchis are also calledtailed agoutis.[3]
The two species – thered acouchi (M. acouchy) inthe Guianas of Amazonia and nearby parts of Brazil, and thegreen acouchi (M. pratti) in western Amazonia - differ in coloration and other characteristics. Thetaxonomy of the genus has historically been confused, with some authors applying the nameM. acouchy to the green acouchi, in which case the red acouchi is calledM. exilis. Although this issue has now been resolved, other problems remain; in particular, the green acouchi may include more than one species.[4]
They are coloured brown or greenish, but with bright orange or red parts on their heads. Often, acouchis live in riverbanks, where they dig holes. Like the common agoutis, but unlike the much largerpacas, acouchis are active at day and feed on fruit.[5]
Acouchis depend on their tails to convey their willingness and readiness to mate.[citation needed] Confident, ready males will hold their tails erect and begin to wag them, whereas the more timid, but still aroused, males will wag their tails in a downward position. Females will signal their interest by erecting their tails while simultaneously arching their backs downward. The litter size is generally two.