Agouti

The agouti ( , ə-GOO-tee) or common agouti is any of several rodent species of the genus Dasyprocta, from Ancient Greek δασύς (dasús), meaning "hair", and πρωκτός (prōktós), meaning "anus". They are native to Central America, northern and central South America, and the southern Lesser Antilles. Some species have also been introduced elsewhere in the West Indies and in west Africa (Bénin). They are related to guinea pigs and look quite similar, but they are larger and have longer legs. The species vary considerably in colour, being brown, reddish, dull orange, greyish, or blackish, but typically with lighter underparts. Their bodies are covered with coarse hair, which is raised when alarmed. The related pacas were formerly included in genus Agouti, but these animals were reclassified in 1998 as genus Cuniculus. The Spanish term is agutí. In Mexico, the agouti is called the sereque. In Panama, it is known as the ñeque and in eastern Ecuador, as the guatusa.