Red-rumped agouti

Scientific name: Dasyprocta leporina

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

A stocky, rabbit-sized rodent with a distinctive reddish-orange rump contrasting with darker brown upperparts and grey-brown sides. Hindquarters are noticeably elevated; front legs are noticeably shorter than hind legs, giving a characteristic hunched posture.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 0.6–1.0 kg; body length 40–55 cm with minimal sexual dimorphism.

Habitat

Red-rumped agoutis inhabit tropical forests, forest edges, and secondary growth from sea level to approximately 1,500 m elevation. They favour areas with dense ground cover and leaf litter in humid lowland and foothill forests.

Distribution

Found throughout northern South America including Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil (primarily Amazonian regions). Prefers humid tropical lowland forests and forest-edge habitats.

Diet

Primarily a frugivore consuming fallen fruits, seeds, and nuts; supplements with vegetation, roots, and occasionally fungi depending on seasonal availability.

Behaviour

Diurnal and crepuscular, most active in early morning and late afternoon. Solitary or in pairs; highly alert with a rapid, bounding gait; produces loud alarm calls when disturbed.

Hunting tips

Look for small, scattered droppings and freshly disturbed leaf litter where animals have foraged. Trails through dense understory and near fruiting trees are productive. Approach quietly during dawn or dusk, moving slowly through thick cover; the animal's wariness and explosive flight require quick reactions once flushed. Position yourself near known fruit trees or forest gaps where visibility allows for a shot opportunity.

Whole weight

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

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 5 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.