Editing Paca (section)

==Behavior==
Pacas inhabit [[rainforest]]s, [[cloud forest]]s, and sometimes more open habitats. They are great swimmers and prefer to be near water. They dive when threatened and can stay submerged up to 15 minutes. They can also jump up to {{Convert|1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and freeze for up to 45 minutes. They normally move along well-established paths and will create new paths when old ones are disturbed.<ref name="Grzimek" />

They are normally passive in daytime and forage in the morning and afternoon, but can be strictly nocturnal in areas with many predators. They live in burrows up to {{Convert|3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} deep, normally with two entrances covered with leaves to hide the burrow and to serve as an early warning system.  Burrows are often near water, but always above the seasonal flood line.  Predators except humans include [[jaguar]], [[Cougar|puma]], [[ocelot]], [[margay]], [[jaguarundi]], [[bush dog]], [[boa constrictor]], and [[caiman]].<ref name="Grzimek" />

Pacas have resonating chambers in their cheeks and their growling noise is surprisingly loud for their size. Aside from making noises, territories are marked with urine. Population density can reach up to 70 adults per {{Convert|20|ha|acre|abbr=on}}, and pacas often constitute some 20% of the [[Biomass (ecology)|biomass]] of terrestrial mammals.{{Dubious|Biomass|date=January 2023}}<ref name="Grzimek" />