Paca

Scientific name: Cuniculus paca

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Pacas are stocky, barrel-bodied rodents with reddish-brown to dark brown fur marked by distinctive white spots and stripes along the flanks and sides. Adult males and females are similar in appearance, though males may be slightly larger; the head is large and blunt with small rounded ears.

Size and weight

Adults typically weigh 6–15 kg, with body length of 40–79 cm. Males average slightly larger than females.

Habitat

Pacas inhabit tropical and subtropical forests from lowland humid areas to montane regions, typically near water sources such as rivers, streams, and wetlands. They prefer dense vegetation and root systems that provide cover and escape routes.

Distribution

Pacas are found from southern Mexico through Central America and into South America as far south as Paraguay and northern Argentina, inhabiting humid tropical forests and forest edges near permanent water sources.

Diet

Pacas are herbivorous, feeding primarily on fallen fruits, nuts, seeds, and tender vegetation; they show seasonal preference for fruits when available and supplement with roots, bark, and leafy matter year-round.

Behaviour

Pacas are nocturnal and crepuscular, most active at dusk and night; they are solitary or found in pairs, moving quietly along established trails between feeding and resting sites near water.

Hunting tips

Look for tracks in soft mud near water—paca prints show four toes on front feet and five on hind feet, roughly 5 cm wide. Sign includes droppings (cylindrical, 1–2 cm), cleared feeding areas beneath fruiting trees, and worn trails leading to water and shelter. Approach quietly along waterways at dawn or dusk, moving slowly through dense cover; pacas rely on concealment and freezing rather than flight, so careful stalking can yield close encounters.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 10 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.