Dasyprocta ruatanica Thomas, 1901

Ruatan Island Agouti

Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System external link, T Orrell (custodian) in 
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN) external link Showing: scientific names

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Table of Contents

Morphology

Physical Description

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Animal Diversity Web external link
Copyright
©1995-2008, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. Some rights reserved external link
Author
Laurinda Hill, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Editor
Link Olson, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Editor
Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Location
Source URL
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Citation
Hill, L. and L. Olson. 2009. "Dasyprocta ruatanica" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 25, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dasyprocta_ruatanica.html. 

 

Roatán Island agoutis, as well as other Dasyprocta, look like large, long-legged guinea pigs. The head and body of an adult can be from 32 to 64 cm (12.6 to 25.2 in) long and weight between 0.6 and 4 kg (1.3 to 8.8 lb). They are smaller than closely related Central American agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata). The ears are naked and the tail is very short. Dasyprocta have 5 toes on their front feet and 3 on the hind feet. They have a digitigrade foot posture. The fur is orange-brown and hairs are annulated to the root. The ventral surface is like the back, but slightly more olive-colored. There is a white spot on the chin and a yellow patch in the middle of the belly. The body color darkens along the limbs to a dark brown color on the feet. ("Roatán Island agouti", 2005; Lee et al., 2000; Lee, Hartline, and Barnes, 2006; Thomas, 1901)

 
References
  • Lee, T., D. Rhodes, J. Lynons, D. Brannan. 2000. The Natural History of the Roatan Island Agouti (Dasyprocta ruatanica), a Study of Behavior, Diet and Description of the Habitat. The Texas Journal of Science, 52(2): 52(2).
  • Thomas, O. 1901. New insular forms of Nasau and Dasyrpocta. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series, 7, 8: 271-273.
  • Lee, T., H. Hartline, B. Barnes. 2006. Dasyprocta ruatanica. Pp. 1-3 in R. Gettinger, K. Helgen, L. Marinelli, P. Owens, V. Hayssen, eds. Mammalian Species, Vol. No. 800. online: American Society of Mammalogists. Accessed November 10, 2008 at http://www.bioone.org/archive/1545-1410/800/1/pdf/i1545-1410-800-1-1.pdf .
  • 2005. Roatán Island agouti. M. Hutchins, W. Conway, eds. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Accessed December 08, 2008 at http://www.answers.com/topic/roat-n-island-agouti .
"Dasyprocta ruatanica Thomas, 1901". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/326579". Accessed 14 Mar 2010.