Myoprocta acouchy, also known as the red acouchy, can be found in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil, north of the Amazon and east of the Rio Branco. Isolated populations may be found in Colombia and the upper Rio Vaupes.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

Red acouchis range in total length from 386 mm to 468 mm. With masses between 1.05 kg to 1.45 kg. Red acouchis are dark chestnut-red or orange on the sides and legs. Their mid-back and rump are black or a very dark shade of red. Areas around the mouth and eyes, as well as behind the ears, are almost naked. The whiskers are well developed and are black in color. They have long limbs, the forefeet have four toes and a vestigial thumb with a claw, and the hind feet have three large elongated toes. These toes have hoof-like claws. They have black soles of the bottom of their feet. The mid-back and rump are covered in glossy black or dark red hairs. Some may have an olivaceous appearance. Rump hairs are not banded, which distinguishes them from their close relative Myoprocta pratti, commonly known as green acouchis. Rump hairs are long and straight, hanging over the tail region. Red acouchis have a slender, short tail, which is white underneath as well as at the tip. The tail is often held up, exposing the white underside.

Range mass: 1.000 to 4.000 kg.

Range length: 386 to 468 mm.

Average basal metabolic rate: 2.8040 cm^3 oxygen/hour.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average basal metabolic rate: 2.804 W.

• Terrestrial

The habitat of M. acouchy is dense undergrowth in lowland forests. Red acouchis are usually found around fallen trees that are used as runways. Males prefer open forest while females prefer a closed habitat. At night the red acouchis rest in nests of leaves, usually inside a hollow log. Rarely they can be found using burrows made by other species. When using these burrows, M. acouchy will plug up any entrances not in use with leaves.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

Other Habitat Features: riparian

Red acouchis are herbivorous, eating mainly fruits, nuts, seeds, and the cotyledons of seedlings. They are known for burying seeds in the forest floor for use during the dry season, when food is scarce.

Plant Foods: wood, bark, or stems; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food

Primary Diet: herbivore (Frugivore , Granivore )

The red acouchi behavior of burying seeds helps in the dispersal of seeds of many tree species. Red acouchis are also common prey for many tropical lowland predators.

Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds

Red acouchis are prey to many medium-sized tropical, lowland predators, such as snakes and cats. When threatened by a predator, they emit an alarm call. When they flee, it is usually only for a few yards, where they will then hide motionless in a thicket or behind a fallen log. They have been known to circle silently and approach a motionless observer from behind after originally fleeing in alarm.

Known Predators:

• large snakes (Serpentes)
• jaguars (Panthera onca)
• ocelots (Leopardus pardalis)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

When alarmed, red acouchis stomp their hind feet and emit a whistle. They also emit a series of high pitched sounds, including a screech like squawk. Red acouchis can be detected by listening for the gnawing sounds they make while eating seeds and nuts.

Communication Channels: tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Other Communication Modes: vibrations

Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic

There is little documentation of the longevity of M. acouchy, the longest living captive animal lived over 10 years.

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: 10 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 10.0 years.

Red acouchi courtship may be highly ritualized, simular to their close relatives in the genera Dasyprocta and Agouti. What is known about the courtship of red acouchis is that males will mark the ground with anal glands when pursuing females. This is done by dragging the hind quaters across the ground. They will also follow females around with the front legs trembling and emitting a high pitched sound. When aroused, the hair on the back and flanks will stand up and go back down suddenly. Ocassionally males will also splash females with urine.

The actual breeding season of the red acouchis in the wild is not well studied. In captivity the species has been observed breeding year-round. When this occurs, there usually is a peak in births during the summer months. Males are fertile year round, while females go into anestrus during the summer. The estrous cycle for red acouchis averages about 42 days. The gestation period averages 99 days. The number of offspring produced in a single litter is from 1 to 3 young with a average of 2. The young will nurse for 2 to 3 months before becoming fully weaned. Young of both sexes will become sexually mature at approximately 304 days. Post-partum estrus can occur but females will usually mate after the young are fully weaned.

Breeding interval: Red acouchis can breed multiple times during a year.

Breeding season: In captivity breeding occurs year round. They tend to have a birth peak in the summer months.

Range number of offspring: 1.000 to 2.

Range gestation period: 94 to 115 days.

Average gestation period: 99 days.

Range weaning age: 42.000 to 56.000 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 304 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 304 days.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous ; post-partum estrous

Average birth mass: 100 g.

Average number of offspring: 2.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 304 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 304 days.

Young red acouchis are precocial. Even so, they will remain sheltered inside a burrow until they are several weeks old. The mother returns to the nest burrow to nurse the young. Male red acouchis do not help with raising young.

Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female)

Red acouchi populations seem stable, they are considered lower risk/least concern by the IUCN.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

There are no known adverse effects of M. acouchy on humans.

Red acouchis help with forest regeneration when they bury the seeds of plants species in different places for the use during the dry season. They are also hunted by locals as a valuable meat source.

Positive Impacts: food