![]() Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar o horário de atividade da cutia ( Dasyprocta leporina) em dois remanescentes de Mata Atlântica e estabelecer os fatores que podem interferir no ritmo circadiano da espécie considerando peculiaridades das áreas amostradas. O horário de atividade reflete adaptações e respostas das espécies às variações diárias e sazonais do ambiente, sendo o entendimento destes padrões importante para uma melhor compreensão do nicho temporal das espécies. leporina conservation in southeastern Brazil once the species is more susceptible to poaching at times when animals are most active.ĭasyproctidae abiotic factors activity patterns circadian rhythm photoperiod In addition to a better understanding of the temporal niche of the Red-rumped Agouti, the behavior patterns we describe here can be useful to optimize strategies for D. The influence of other factors is also discussed. Because the two study areas are at about the same latitude, we suggest that the behavioral plasticity is due to different temperature regimes associated with a local effect of altitude and topography of the terrain on the incidence of solar rays inside the forest. The difference between activity patterns in the two locations suggests plasticity in agouti behavior. There was a longer peak in the morning in the coastal area, and a higher peak in the evening in the mountains, where activity starts later and becomes less intense earlier. Activity patterns were different in the two study areas (W = 6.77, p = 0.034). ![]() Activity peaked in the morning soon after sunrise and then before and during dusk. Activity patterns were diurnal and bimodal, and animals were active for 14-15 hours each day. A total of 49 photos were taken in the mountains and 152 in the coastal area. ![]() Camera traps were used to gather data in two protected areas (one montane and other coastal) in the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Here we examine temporal activity in the Red-rumped Agouti ( Dasyprocta leporina) in two fragments of Atlantic Forest and those factors that influence the circadian rhythm in the study areas. That keen nose helps the agouti locate the food again in times of need.Timing of activity is a consequence of adaptations to daily and seasonal changes in the environment and examining these patterns is important to better understand the temporal niches of the species. When there's lots of food, an agouti buries the extra portions around its territory for future meals. Its sensitive ears can even hear when the fruit hits the ground! The agouti often eats upright, holding its food with the front feet, just like a squirrel. Fallen fruit is the agouti's favorite food, with nuts a close second. More amazingly, this rodent can jump up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) straight up in the air from a standing position, spin around, land, and dash off in the opposite direction!įeasting, forgetting, and farming. To make an escape, an agouti can run pretty quickly. Sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell help the agouti prepare when a predator is near: it may freeze, make an alarm call, stamp its feet, or raise the long hairs on its rump to scare the enemy away. ![]() At rest, the agouti stays in a burrow or hollow tree trunk, safe from predators such as coatimundis, jaguars, and ocelots. What'cha doin'? Much of this rodent's time is spent searching for food or taking a dip in a pool of water. Brazil nuts may be hard for us to crack, but they pose no problem for agoutis! This sturdy rodent is the only animal that can crack open the hard outer shell of a Brazil nut.The sharp incisors keep growing throughout their lifetime, ensuring that they always have nut-cracking tools at the ready. Agoutis use their molars to grind food items. The layers of enamel on their teeth are twisted in a way that makes them much stronger. These are the teeth they use to chew through tough items like nutshells. It walks on its toes, not flat-footed like many rodents, giving the agouti a dainty look.Īlthough it is hard to see it, the agouti does have a tail: it is very small, looking like a dark jelly bean stuck on the rump!Īre you nuts? Just like other rodents, agoutis have teeth designed to gnaw on very hard items, with one pair of sharp incisors in the front of the mouth. The agouti has five toes on its front feet and three on the hind feet. Its coarse hair is covered with an oily (and stinky!) substance that acts like a raincoat. The agouti (ah GOO tee) is a rodent from Central and South America rainforests that looks a bit like a really large guinea pig.
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