What is an agouti?
The Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), called guatusa in Costa Rica, is a long-legged, orange-brown rodent about the size of a large rabbit. It is not the same as the tepezcuintle (paca), which is bigger, spotted and mostly nocturnal.
Where and when to see it
Agoutis are active by day. Inside Manuel Antonio National Park look on the forest floor near the trails and the edges of the beaches, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. They are shy and dash off with a sharp bark when startled.
Why the agouti matters
Agoutis bury seeds to eat later and forget many of them, which plants new trees. Several large rainforest trees depend on them to spread their seeds.
See it with a guide
Walk quietly with a naturalist on our national park guided tour: we often see agoutis, coatis and other ground animals while the group is looking for sloths and monkeys. Browse more in our Manuel Antonio animals guide.