Abstract

BONILLA-MORALES, Miguel Macgayver; RODRIGUEZ PULIDO, José  and  MURILLO PACHECO, Ricardo. Biology of agouti (Cuniculus paca Brisson): a breeding perspective. Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2013, vol.8, n.1, pp.129-142. ISSN 1900-9607.

The agouti (Cuniculus paca) is a rodent of the Neotropics. It is medium-sized, night owl, solitary, territorial, and sedentary. Indigenous and rural populations use it is a food source. Illegal hunting and trade of agouti is increasing given the exquisite flavor of its meat. This has led to an indiscriminate extraction from their natural habitat, causing a serious reduction in its wild populations. Farm breeding is an alternative to mitigate its depopulation. Researchers in Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, and Colombia have attempted to breed agouti in captivity, with interesting results. The aim of this review is to present the in situ and ex situ behavior of agouti for its proper handling in captivity.

Keywords : Agouti; animal breeding; ex situ; in situ; rodent.

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