Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766)

Fur Characteristics

The lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) has coarse fur with no underfur. Its upper body ranges from dark brown to black, while its underbelly is white or yellowish. It typically has three to five rows of white spots along its sides, set against a dark grey background.

Limb Structure

It has thick, strong legs: forefeet have four digits, and hind feet have five digits, where the first and fifth digits are reduced. Its nails function like hooves.

Tail Features

The lowland paca's tail is short and hairless.

Cranial Anatomy

Its zygomatic arch is expanded both laterally and dorsally, and is used as a resonating chamber; this is a unique feature among mammals.

Adult Weight

Adult lowland pacas weigh between 6 and 12 kilograms, or 13 and 26 pounds.

Reproduction Traits

Each litter produces one young lowland paca, and occasionally two. They usually produce one to three young per year, with a gestation period of around 115 to 120 days.

Life History

Pacas reach sexual maturity at about 1 year of age, and typically live up to 13 years.

Disease Vector Status

The lowland paca can carry leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis.