Red Acouchi
Encyclopedia
The Red Acouchi, Myoprocta acouchy, is a species
of rodent
in the acouchi genus, part of the family Dasyproctidae
, from South America. It is found in the Guyanan subregion of Amazonia, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil, east of the Rio Branco
and mainly north of the Amazon
, with a few records from south of the Amazon. In the past, some authors have applied the name acouchy to the Green Acouchi
instead and used Myoprocta exilis for the Red Acouchi, but this is now obsolete.
It not only hoards seeds, but chews off the protruding sprout to prevent germination.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the acouchi genus, part of the family Dasyproctidae
Dasyproctidae
Dasyproctidae is a family of large South American rodents, comprising the agoutis and acouchis. Their fur is a reddish or dark colour above, with a paler underside. They are herbivorous, often feeding on ripe fruit that falls from trees...
, from South America. It is found in the Guyanan subregion of Amazonia, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil, east of the Rio Branco
Rio Branco
Rio Branco is a Brazilian city, capital of Acre. Located in the Valley of Acre in northern Brazil, it is the most populous county in the state, with 305,954 inhabitants, according to a 2009 estimate - almost half the state population....
and mainly north of the Amazon
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
, with a few records from south of the Amazon. In the past, some authors have applied the name acouchy to the Green Acouchi
Green Acouchi
The Green Acouchi, Myoprocta pratti, is a species of rodent in the acouchi genus, part of the family Dasyproctidae, from South America. Its distribution is in western Amazonia, west of the Rios Negro and Madeira, in northwestern Brazil, northeastern Peru, eastern Ecuador, southeastern Colombia, and...
instead and used Myoprocta exilis for the Red Acouchi, but this is now obsolete.
It not only hoards seeds, but chews off the protruding sprout to prevent germination.