The Paca

 The paca, a large rodent also known as the spotted paca, can be found at altitudes ranging from sea level to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in tropical forests from eastern Mexico to eastern Paraguay, northern Argentina and northern Uruguay.  In most of Mexico and Central America, it is known as tepezcuintle, or jaleb in the Yucatán peninsula.

These large, white-spotted tailless rodents have pig-like bodies, large heads, swollen cheeks, and features resembling a guinea pig and rabbit.  They have short ears, large eyes, long whiskers, pudgy bodies with large rumps.  Their limbs are thick and strong with four toes on the forefeet and five on their hind feet – three long weight-bearing middle toes and two tiny side toes.  Their claws are thick.

The paca has coarse fur with no underfur.  The upper body is dark brown or black, the underbelly white or yellowish and usually has three to five rows of white spots along its sides, against a dark grey background.

As an adult, the paca reaches a weight of 6 to12 kg (13 to 26 lb.).  Pacas reach sexual maturity at around one year and have two litters of one or two babies per year. Gestation lasts between 115 and 120 days.

The paca, a mostly solitary and nocturnal animal, doesn’t vocalize much. But it does make loud grunts, growls, barks, and tooth-grinding noises as a defense mechanism and to intimidate rival pacas. Until about one month old, young pacas make a meowing sounds.   The paca lives near water, usually small rivers in forested habitats where it digs simple, multiple exit burrows about 2 m (6 ft. 7 in.) below the surface. A good swimmer, the paca will head for the water when in danger. The paca uses its abilities as a climber to search for fruit in trees. Its diet includes leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and fruit, especially avocado, mangos and zapotes.

compliments of Mayan Garden Club