A family of large (20 to 30 inches long) plant eating rodents found in Central and South America. They are nearly tailless and have chunky bodies, dark brown fur with spotted lines along their sides and back, with stout legs and hind limbs that are longer than the forelimbs, and a large, square head with short ears.

Annotation

do not confuse entry term AGOUTIDAE with AGOUTIS see DASYPROCTIDAE

DUI

D065469 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0589761

Previous indexing

Rodentia (1970-2014)

History note

2015

Public note

2015