Black Agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa)
Black Agouti photographed in San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador.
The Black Agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa) is a South American species of agouti from the family Dasyproctidae.
It is found in the northwestern Amazon in southern Venezuela, eastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, western Brazil and northeastern Peru. There is also a disjunct population in the Magdalena River Valley of northern Colombia. They are found in forests, thick brush, savannas, and cultivated areas. In Peru, they are confined to the Amazonian region where they are found in all parts of the low selva zone and many parts of the high selva zone. It is found at altitudes of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and above. Agoutis live in close proximity to water, being found on the banks of all types of streams.
Like other agoutis, the black agouti is diurnal, lives alone or in pairs, and feeds on fruits and nuts. In some areas, they construct burrows among limestone boulders, along river banks, or under the roots of trees.
