Rainforest Expeditions (est. 1989) operates three award winning Amazon lodges: Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, and Tambopata Research Center. Each Amazon lodge provides access to a unique set of ecotourism experiences in the jungle of southeastern Peru.
Our packages include activities comprised of aspects of nature and culture of the Amazon rainforest. We offer a variety of special interest activities, tours and expeditions like Soft Adventure, Birdwatching expeditions, Family and more...
Brown Agouti (Dasyprocta variegata)
Photo: Christoff Schmid
Name: Brown Agouti
Local name: Añuje, Aguti
Scientific name: Dasyprocta variegata
Characteristics:
1 Weight 5kg. Size 50cm.
2 Body brown colored.
3 Five toes in frontlegs and three in backlegs.
Habitat and behavior: Terrestrial. Live in fallen trunks and heliconias. Diurnal.
Diet: Agoutis feed on fallen fruits, nuts and roots.
Reproduction habits: Agoutis give birth to litters of 2 to 6 young after a gestation period of three months.
Curiosities: The agouti is an important seed disperser because it collects fruits and nuts and buries them as a storage in different places. As it happens to squirrels they don´t remember about all their reserves allowing the sprout of a new plant. Since the agoutis run to escape from predators they do not store fat but they store food instead by burying it. There are reports of 5m jumps! When alarmed or aggressive their hair bristles.
