Dasyprocta mexicana
TAXONOMY
Dasyprocta mexicana Saussure, 1860, Veracruz, Mexico.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Spanish: Serete, guaqueque negro.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Head and body length, 12.6–25.2 in (32–64 cm); tail, 0.4–2.75 in (1–7 cm); weight, 1.3–8.8 lb (0.6–4 kg). This species is characterized by black body fur. Under parts are grayish or olive; there are long black hairs on the rump, and the eyes are ringed with conspicuous patches of naked pink skin. Pink skin also shows up at the base of the ears, contrast with the black fur and black pigmented ears.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs only in a small area of southeast Mexico in Veracruz, north Oaxaca, northwest Chiapas, and west Tabasco states.
HABITAT
Lives in evergreen forests and secondary growth, from lowlands to 1,970 ft (600 m).
BEHAVIOR
Mostly diurnal. Mated pairs occupy territories of 2.5–5 acres (1–2 ha) in extent.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Known to eat fruit.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Two precocial young are born during the dry season.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Lower Risk/Near Threatened; was probably never common in its restricted range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Hunted for food; it is also considered an agricultural pest.
