Sitting up and listening to the sounds of the forest, an agoutiholds an avocado between its forepaws. It peels the soft fruit with its teeth and eats it. Suddenly, the agouti perks its short ears. Sensing danger, it freezes. A rustle of leaves warns of an approaching enemy--perhaps an ocelot.
With a call of alarm, the agouti dashes through the forest to escape its enemy. It swiftly zigzags among the trees. Using its strong legs, the rodent tries to outrun the wild cat. Or the agouti tries to trick its pursuer. It darts into a hollow log and slips out the other end.
There are about ten kinds of agoutis. The animals have short tails and small, rounded ears. Agoutis make their homes in the tropical forests of Mexico, Central America, and South America. Usually they live in sheltered spots under tree roots, between rocks, or in hollow logs.
During the day or in the evening, agoutis look for parts of plants to eat. Their corase hair-pale orange, brown, or almost black-blends with the colours of the forest. Though an agouti's coat appears to be one shade, each hair has bands of color.
Female agoutis usually bear one or two young. The newborn are covered with hair and are more developed than the offspring of some other rodents. Able to see at birth, they often nibble on green plants an hour later. Like full-grown agoutis, they freeze when in danger.
INFO
AGOUTI:
Length of head and body: 16-24 in (41-61 cm); tail, about 1 in ( 3 cm)
Weight: 2-9 lb (1-4 kg)
Habitat and range: tropical forests in Mexico and in Central and South America
Food: fruit, leaves, roots, and stalks
Life Span: 13 to 20 years in captivity
Reproduction: 1 or 2 young after a pergnancy of about 3 months