Humpbacked hare - champion in jumping

Humpbacked hare is a small mammal that belongs to a detachment of rodents. Its other name is "agouti", and in Latin - Dasyprocta. Externally it is similar to a guinea pig, but its limbs are much longer. The average weight of this animal is about 4 kg, and the length of the body is about 0.6 m.

The back of the agouti is convex, rounded, one might say, hunchbacked (hence the name). Head oblong with rounded small ears. Tail of Kuruguz. On the hind limbs there are only three separated long fingers, and on the shorter front ones - four with the rudiment of the fifth. Humpbacked hare has a wool harsh short, but thick and with gloss. The color of the back and limbs can be from golden to black, but the stomach is always light. Teeth well developed, especially the anterior ones. Surprisingly, the upper incisors are red, and the lower ones are yellowish.

Agouti live in small herds or in pairs. They settle on forest plains and in dense forests in the lower reaches of the rivers Guiana, Brazil, Peru and Suriname. As housing, burrows are used between stones along the banks of water bodies, and hollows under the roots are used for temporary residence. In the daytime, the hunchback hare prefers to lie in shelters, leaving them only with full confidence in safety. Fleeing, can swim for some distance, while never diving.

To feed the hunchbacked hare comes only with the sunset, in good weather, it can scour the whole night long. It feeds on nuts, seeds, juicy fruits, as well as certain herbs, which they eat up to the roots. Food holds, like squirrel, with front paws. All the half-eaten food stashes in reserve. Can scramble up an inclined tree for a juicy fruit.

Agouti is a harmless animal, like the whole family. Rodents are being watched by many enemies, such as big cats, Brazilian dogs and, of course, people. Subtlety of smell and agility often save them from death. Zverek, being in the thickets, always on the alert. Sometimes he lifts his front paw or leans on his elbows and listens. In case of danger, it is able to develop the fastest speed from its place.

In hops, a hunchbacked hare is similar to an antelope. What kind of travel does he choose? And a gallop, and a trot, and a slow step is accessible to him. From the place can jump 6 m in length and 2 m in height. With developed sense of smell and hearing An animal that has a weak vision. Mental abilities it does not shine, although the terrain is memorized in a state.

Agouti are very prolific. During the rut, males fiercely fight for the female, sometimes seriously injuring each other. She at first escapes from the winner, but the one with a whistle chases her until he gets his way.

Pregnant females are found at any time of the year. Typically, a year there are two litters, in each of which from 1 to 3 cubs. Zaychat are born sighted and large enough. The female feeds its offspring with milk for several weeks. When the cubs grow up, she still leads them for a while, teaching them how to find food and protecting them.

Meat agouti is valued little, can be eaten only as a last resort. Humpbacked hare can cause serious damage to plantations of bananas and sugar cane. In captivity can live up to 20 years, in the wild - much less.