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IUCN 2008: T89497686A78319610

Dasyprocta punctata, Central American Agouti

Assessment by: Emmons, L.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Emmons, L. 2016. Dasyprocta punctata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016:
e.T89497686A78319610. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-
2.RLTS.T89497686A78319610.en

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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Rodentia Dasyproctidae

Taxon Name:  Dasyprocta punctata Gray, 1842

Common Name(s):
• English: Central American Agouti
• French: Agouti Ponctué
• Spanish: Agoutí Rojizo
Taxonomic Source(s):
Patton, J.L. and Emmons, L.H. 2015. Family Dasyproctidae Bonaparte, 1838. In: Patton, J.L., Pardiñas,
U.F.G. and D'elia, G. (eds), Mammals of South America Volume 2: Rodents, pp. 733-762. University of
Chicago Press, Chicago.

Taxonomic Notes:
Includes variegata (Goldman 1913:11); but also see Handley (1976: 56) and Emmons and Feer (1997:
227) who listed variegata as a distinct species.

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published: 2016

Date Assessed: June 10, 2016

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a
number of protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be in decline. If the northern and southern
ranges are split into two species, each should be re-assessed.

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is widespread in Mesoamerica and South America, and has a disjunct range. The northern
portion of the range occurs from Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula (southern Mexico) to northern
Ecuador and Colombia and western Venezuela in the Sierra de Perija and western slopes of the Sierra de
Merida to south along the Pacific Coast of Colombia and Ecuador. Extends onto the eastern slope of the
eastern Andes in Colombia and into the headwaters of the Rio Sarare in Venezuela (Gilbert 2016, Patton
and Emmons 2015). In South America, it is found from sea level up to at least 1,600 m (Patton and
Emmons 2015).

Country Occurrence:
Native: Belize; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua;

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 1
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T89497686A78319610.en
Panama; Paraguay; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

Introduced: Cayman Islands; Cuba

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 2
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T89497686A78319610.en
Distribution Map
Dasyprocta punctata

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 3
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Population
This rodent is widespread, and is one of the most common species throughout most of its range
(Emmons and Freer 1997, Reid 1997).
Current Population Trend:  Stable

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

This species occurs in mature deciduous and evergreen forest, secondary forest, and in gardens and
plantations (Emmons and Freer 1997, Reid 1997).

It is a lowland tropical forest species that feeds on palm (Attalea butyraceae), and is an important seed
disperser (Wright and Duber 2001). It is diurnal; activity starts early in the morning and continues on
and off throughout the day. It is sometimes seen at night as it is easily disturbed when sleeping, and it
may continue feeding after sunset. It sleeps in hollow logs, under buttress roots, or in tangles of
vegetation. Burrows in banks may be used in some regions. Each individual has several sleeping sites
that are used repeatedly. The diet consists mainly of seeds and fruits; small amounts of plant material
and fungi are included when supplies of fruit are low. When food is abundant, it carries seeds away and
buries them for future use, depositing each seed in a different place. Since not all seeds are recovered,
this rodent is an important seed disperser for a number of tree species including Guapinol (Hymenaea
courabil) (Hallwachs 1986).

Agoutis live in stable pairs that remain together until one of the pair dies. Often only one individual may
be seen, as members of the pair do not stay in close contact with each other. Pairs maintain territories
but are fairly tolerant of other agoutis if food is plentiful. In aggressive interactions, the long rump hairs
are raised to form a fan-shaped crest. Females give birth to 1 or 2 well-developed young. Soon after
birth, the mother leads the young to a small nest hole. Young are independent at 4 to 5 months (Reid
1997).

Systems:  Terrestrial

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

It is a preferred game species (Wright and Duber 2001). This agouti is heavily hunted for meat, and
populations are much reduced in many areas with suitable habitat (Emmons and Freer 1997, Reid 1997).
It is reluctant to leave its territory and so can be run to ground by dogs and killed with machetes (Reid
1997). In the northern portion of its range, this species is also threatened by habitat loss (conversion to
pasture) (Emmons and Freer 1997).

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

This species is listed under CITES Appendix III in Honduras. Guyana had a CITES Annual Export Quota of
350 live animals for 2001. In Panama it is listed as Least Concerned. Occurs in Panamanian national
parks and on Panamanian islands.

Credits

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 4
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T89497686A78319610.en
Assessor(s): Emmons, L.

Reviewer(s): Amori, G.

Contributor(s): Timm, R., Ojeda, R., Samudio Jr, R. & Bidau, C.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 5
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Bibliography
Emmons, L.H. and Feer, F. 1997. Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide, Second edition.
University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, USA.

Gilbert, J.A. 2016. Family Dasyproctidae. In: Wilson, D.E., Lacher, T.E., Jr and Mittermeier, R.A. (eds),
Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents: Part 1., Lynx Editions, Barcelona.

Hallwachs, W. 1986. Agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata), the inheritors of guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril:
Leguminosae). In: A. Estrada and T. H. Fleming (eds), Frugivores and Seed Dispersal, pp. 285-304. W.
Junk, Dordrecht.

IUCN. 2016. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 04 September 2016).

Patton, J.L. and Emmons, L.H. 2015. Family Dasyproctidae Bonaparte, 1838. In: Patton, J.L., Pardiñas,
U.F.G. and D'elia, G. (eds), Mammals of South America Volume 2: Rodents, pp. 733-762. University of
Chicago Press, Chicago.

Reid, F. 2009. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Oxford University
Press, New York, USA.

Woods, C.A. and Kilpatrick, C.W. 2005. Infraorder Hystricognathi. In: Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds),
Mammal Species of the World, pp. 1538-1599. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Wright, S.J. and Duber, H.C. 2001. Poachers and forest fragmentation alter seed dispersal, seed survival,
and seedling recruitment in the palm Attalea butyraceae. Biotropica 33(4): 583-595.

Citation
Emmons, L. 2016. Dasyprocta punctata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016:
e.T89497686A78319610. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T89497686A78319610.en

Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 6
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T89497686A78319610.en
 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland - Suitable -

1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane - Suitable -

14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.3. Artificial/Terrestrial - Plantations - Suitable -

14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.4. Artificial/Terrestrial - Rural Gardens - Suitable -

0. Root -> 16. Introduced vegetation - Suitable -

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing - - -

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.4. Scale
Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

5. Biological resource use -> 5.1. Hunting & trapping Ongoing - - -

terrestrial animals -> 5.1.1. Intentional use (species is
the target)
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range

In-Place Species Management

Harvest management plan: Yes

In-Place Education

Included in international legislation: Yes

Subject to any international management/trade controls: Yes

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 7
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Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy

1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Lower elevation limit (m): 0

Upper elevation limit (m): 2400

Population
Population severely fragmented: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dasyprocta punctata – published in 2016. 8
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The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International;
Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of
Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™