Editing Acouchi

{{Short description|Genus of rodents}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Myoprocta_pratti.jpg
| image_caption = [[Green acouchi]]
| taxon = Myoprocta
| authority = [[Oldfield Thomas|Thomas]], 1903
| type_species = ''[[Red acouchi|Cavia acouchy]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben|Erxleben]], 1777
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
*''[[Red acouchi|Myoprocta acouchy]]''
*''[[Green acouchi|Myoprocta pratti]]''
}}

The '''acouchis''' (genus '''''Myoprocta''''') are [[rodent]]s belonging to the family [[Dasyproctidae]]<ref>{{MSW3|id=13400265}}</ref> from the [[Amazon basin]]. They are generally smaller than [[agouti]]s and have very short tails (5 to 7&nbsp;cm), while agoutis lack tails.<ref name=Weir2>{{Cite journal| last=Weir| first=B.J.| year=1967| title=The care and management of laboratory hystricomorph rodents| journal=Lab Anim.| volume=1| issue=2| pages=95–104| doi=10.1258/002367767781035521}}</ref> For this reason the acouchis are also called '''tailed agoutis'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eol.org/pages/42028/details|title=Encyclopedia of Life|website=eol.org|access-date=2019-09-23}}</ref>

The two species – the [[red acouchi]] (''M. acouchy'') in [[the Guianas]] of Amazonia and nearby parts of Brazil, and the [[green acouchi]] (''M. pratti'') in western Amazonia - differ in coloration and other characteristics. The [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] of the genus has historically been confused, with some authors applying the name ''M. acouchy'' to the green acouchi, in which case the red acouchi is called ''M. exilis''. Although this issue has now been resolved, other problems remain; in particular, the green acouchi may include more than one species.<ref>Voss et al., 2001, pp. 144-151</ref>

They are coloured brown or greenish, but with bright orange or red parts on their heads. Often, acouchis live in riverbanks, where they dig holes. Like the common agoutis, but unlike the much larger [[paca]]s, acouchis are active at day and feed on fruit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/acouchy|title=Acouchy {{!}} rodent|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-09-23}}</ref>

Acouchis depend on their tails to convey their willingness and readiness to mate.{{cn|date=November 2019}} Confident, ready males will hold their tails erect and begin to wag them, whereas the more timid, but still aroused, males will wag their tails in a downward position. Females will signal their interest by erecting their tails while simultaneously arching their backs downward. The litter size is generally two.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Literature cited==
*Voss, R.S., Lunde, D.P. & Simmons, N.B. 2001. Mammals of Paracou, French Guiana: a Neotropical lowland rainforest fauna. Part 2. Nonvolant species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 263:1-236.

{{Dasyproctidae nav}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q342190}}

[[Category:Myoprocta| ]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Amazon]]
[[Category:Dasyproctidae]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas]]