Central American agoutis - have a mutualistic relationship with Brazil nut trees.

Central American agoutis - they run freely around the Guatemala Zoo.

If a guinea pig and a capybara conspired to produce offspring between them, I suspect that the resulting adults would look a lot like agoutis.

I first saw these good-sized rodents hurrying along near fences and other structures at the drive-through zoo we visited in Guatemala.  The zoo was interesting in itself, and I will do a blog on it eventually, but these little creatures got on my radar early.  They weren't caged, penned, or restrained in any manner.  They had the run of the place, no so different from what we see when visiting a park occupied by grey and black squirrels.  They were content to be in the open, although they liked the security of a nearby wall or fence.  They would scurry towards an animal's food and either eat it right away or carry some away to eat elsewhere.

Agoutis eat fruit and nuts; their very sharp teeth can gnaw through the tough outer shell of Brazil nuts and even coconuts.  If you have ever tried to open either of those, you know how tough they are. But it doesn't stop there.  Brazil nuts are so hard that they cannot germinate on their own.  The nuts form inside large, 6 pound pods (see image below) that are almost impossible to open.  Agoutis can open them though, and stash many of the inside nuts in caches around their burrows.  Those that are not eaten germinate.  The seeds feed the agoutis and the agoutis allow the seeds to grow.

Brazil nut pods that Agoutis can open.  Brazil nuts are inside.

 Another interesting fact about agoutis is that they mate for life.  The young, that can run an hour after they are born, stay with the parents until there is another litter.  Agoutis are on the decline, which is affecting native Brazil nut tree poplations.  As one species declines, so does the other.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com