Feed adult mothers a methyl-rich or genistein-rich diet, and DNA methylation lowers expression of the agouti gene in their offspring, shifting their coat color away from the classic agouti yellow and ...
Agoutis are found in forested and wooded areas in Central and South America. Their habitats include rainforests, savannas, and cultivated fields. They conceal themselves at night in hollow tree trunks or in burrows among roots.
Agouti, (genus Dasyprocta), any of about a dozen species of tropical American rodents resembling the small forest-dwelling hoofed animals of tropical Africa and Asia (see chevrotain; duiker; royal antelope).
Often described as a rodent bridging the gap between a guinea pig and a rabbit, the agouti is a fascinating creature found in the diverse ecosystems of Central and South America.
The agouti (ah GOO tee) is a rodent from Central and South America rainforests that looks a bit like a really large guinea pig. Its coarse hair is covered with an oily (and stinky!) substance that acts like a raincoat.
Agoutis are special little seed-dispersing mammals from the forests of South America. They are fast, secretive and camouflaged and contribute significantly to the forest ecosystems they inhabit.
An agouti can execute a powerful vertical leap, jumping up to six feet straight into the air to escape a predator. They maintain territories, often living in monogamous pairs, and communicate through scent marking.
Red-rumped agoutis are members of the rodent family similar in appearance to Guinea pigs, but larger and with longer legs. Endemic to South America, they are the only mammals within their native range able to open the husk of a Brazil nut, which makes them vital to the region's ecosystem.