Mammals Active during the day

Red Acouchi

Myoprocta acouchy

iNaturalist Wikipedia

A vibrant, secretive gem of the Amazonian undergrowth, the Red Acouchi is one of nature's most diligent forest planters. Known for its striking copper coat and energetic personality, this small rodent is a prized find for trail camera enthusiasts.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

30-38 cm (12-15 in) in length; weighs 0.6-1.5 kg (1.3-3.3 lbs)

palette

Colors

Rich reddish-brown to orange-brown upperparts; pale yellowish or orange underside; distinctive white-tipped tail

visibility

Key Features

Vibrant reddish-orange coat
Slender, long legs built for speed
Short tail with a prominent white tip
Large, dark eyes and rounded ears

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active during the day

brightness_5

Peak hours 7-11 AM, 3-5 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round

restaurant

Diet Primarily frugivorous, focusing on fallen tropical fruits, nuts, and seeds; occasionally supplements with succulent plants and fungi.

park

Habitat Primary tropical rainforests, particularly areas with dense undergrowth and proximity to water sources.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Red Acouchi Live?

Native to the lush northeastern corner of the South American continent, the Red Acouchi is a hallmark species of the Guiana Shield. Its core range encompasses Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, stretching into northern Brazil primarily east of the Rio Branco and north of the Amazon River. This species is a lowland specialist, rarely found outside these dense, humid tropical forest environments.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

4 Countries

1.2M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

GY Guyana SR Suriname French Guiana BR Brazil

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Mammals arrow_forward

Behavior

The Red Acouchi is a strictly diurnal rodent, meaning it is most active during the daylight hours. It spends its time foraging on the forest floor, moving with high-energy, nervous bursts of speed. They are famous for their 'scatter-hoarding' behavior, where they meticulously bury individual seeds and nuts across the forest floor to save for times when food is scarce. This behavior makes them essential to the ecosystem, as they effectively 'plant' the forest when they forget where they hid their stash.

Socially, Red Acouchis are typically solitary or live in small family units consisting of a mated pair and their offspring. They are incredibly high-strung and alert; at the first sign of a predator like a jaguar or a large snake, they emit a sharp whistle and vanish into the dense undergrowth. While they are territorial, they rarely engage in physical combat, preferring to use scent marking to define their boundaries.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To successfully capture a Red Acouchi on camera, you must think low. Mount your camera no higher than 6 to 10 inches off the ground. Because these rodents are small and low-slung, a standard waist-high mount will likely only capture the top of their heads or miss them entirely. Aim the camera toward natural clearings on the forest floor, especially near the base of large, nut-bearing trees like palms or Brazil nuts.

Speed is the most critical factor when setting up your camera. Red Acouchis are incredibly fast and twitchy. Use a camera with a trigger speed of 0.3 seconds or faster. Set your device to 'Burst Mode' to take 3-5 photos per trigger; this increases your chances of getting a clear shot of the animal rather than just a blur of orange fur. If your camera supports high-frame-rate video (60fps), this is the best way to capture their characteristic tail-flicking and foraging movements.

Since they are diurnal, you don't need to worry much about flash range, but you should be mindful of 'hot spots' caused by dappled sunlight on the forest floor, which can trick PIR sensors or overexpose your images. Positioning the camera in a shaded area facing a well-lit patch of ground often yields the most professional-looking results. While they are naturally shy, placing a few local palm fruits in the center of the frame can entice them to stay still for those precious few seconds needed for a perfect capture.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Red Acouchi.

Green Acouchi

Very similar in size and shape but has olive-green or dull brown fur instead of the bright reddish-orange coat.

Browse all Mammals arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Red Acouchis are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You are most likely to see them or capture them on camera in the early morning hours shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk.

If you live within their native range in the Guianas or Northern Brazil, you can attract them by preserving dense, natural undergrowth and planting native fruit-bearing trees. They are shy, so providing plenty of cover is essential for them to feel safe.

Their diet consists almost entirely of fallen fruits, seeds, and nuts. They play a vital role in the rainforest by 'scatter-hoarding'—burying seeds in the ground to eat later, which often results in new trees growing.

No, Red Acouchis are primary forest specialists. They are rarely found in suburban or urban environments as they require the dense cover and specific food sources found in undisturbed tropical rainforests.

Size and the tail are the best giveaways. The Red Acouchi is much smaller (about the size of a rabbit) and has a visible, slender tail with a white tip, whereas the Red Agouti is much larger and has almost no visible tail.

Record Red Acouchi at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo