Mountain Paca

Cuniculus taczanowskii

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Mammalia · Rodentia · Cuniculidae

About

The mountain paca is a small burrow-dwelling rodent whose habitats are high altitude South American forests. Pacas are nocturnal, sedentary, and solitary animals with territorial tendencies. It eats mostly fruits and seeds. The mountain paca primarily inhabits higher Andean montane forest regions in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Fun Fact

The zygomatic arch is expanded laterally and dorsally and is used as a resonating chamber - a unique feature among mammals.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Endemic to the Central Andes in Colombia, the only place it has been identified as such to date.

Diet

Eats mostly fruits and seeds.

Lifespan

To be updated

Threats

Habitat Change
Hunting and Collection
Climate Change

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

More Mammals Species

Abbott's Duiker EN Abbott's Gibbon EN Addax CR African Elephant EN African Forest Elephant CR African Wild Ass CR

Browse all Mammals →