Stats

Lifespan: 12-16 yrs
Size: Large
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Social: Pair
Biome: Tropical rainforest
Range: Central and South America
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Live Birth
Defense: Burrowing
Status: Uncommon

About

The spotted paca is a large, nocturnal rodent of Central and South American forests, distinguished by rows of creamy white spots running along its rich brown flanks. Its oversized cheekbones contain hollow resonating chambers that amplify its deep, rattling bark — giving it one of the most distinctive voices in the rainforest understorey.

Life cycle

1.
newborn pup
A blind, hairless pup nurses in the nest and is unable to regulate its own warmth.
2.
juvenile
A weaned juvenile is fully furred, leaves the nest, and begins foraging on solid food.
3.
adult
Fully grown and self-sufficient.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cuniculidae
Genus: Cuniculus
Species: Cuniculus paca