Editing Lowland paca

{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Lowland paca<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Woods|pages = 1u38–1600 |id=134p0270}}</ref>
| image = Cuniculus paca.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Emmons, L. |date=2016 |title=''Cuniculus paca'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T699A22197347 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T699A22197347.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| taxon = Cuniculus paca
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[12th edition of Systema Naturae|1766]])
| range_map = Spotted (Lowland) paca Cuniculus paca distribution map.png
| range_map_caption = Lowland paca range<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
| synonyms = ''Mus paca'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1766}}
}}

The '''lowland paca''' ('''''Cuniculus paca'''''), also known as the '''spotted paca''', is a large rodent found in [[tropical]] and [[sub-tropical]] [[Americas|America]], from east-central [[Mexico]] to northern [[Argentina]], and has been introduced to [[Cuba]] and [[Algeria]].<ref>Long, J. L. (2003). Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence. Csiro Publishing, Collingwood, Australia. {{ISBN|9780643099166}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=there doesn’t seem to be anything about Algeria|date=August 2024}}

The animal is called '''''paca''''' in most of its range, but '''''tepezcuintle'''''  (original Aztec language name) in most of [[Mexico]] and Central America, tepesquintle in Guatemala, '''''guardatinaja''''' in [[Nicaragua]], '''''pisquinte''''' in northern Costa Rica, '''''{{lang|yua|jaleb}}''''' in the Yucatán peninsula, '''''conejo pintado''''' in [[Panama]], '''''guanta''''' in [[Ecuador]],  '''''majás''''' or '''''picuro''''' in [[Peru]], '''''jochi pintado''''' in [[Bolivia]], and '''''boruga''''',<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9r9E_HBDAF0C&q=paca+boruga&pg=PA7 | title=Domestication and Husbandry of the Paca (Agouti Paca)| isbn=9789251036402| last1=Nations| first1=Food Agriculture Organization of the United| year=1995| publisher=Food & Agriculture Org.}}</ref> '''''tinajo''''',<ref name=HumboldtLebrija>{{in lang|es}} [http://i2d.humboldt.org.co/ceiba/resource.do?r=rionegro_faunaflora_2014 Fauna y flora de la cuenca media del Río Lebrija en Rionegro, Santander] - [[Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute|Humboldt Institute]]</ref> or '''''guartinaja''''' in [[Colombia]]. It is also known as the '''''gibnut''''' in [[Belize]], where it is prized as a [[game animal]], '''''labba''''' in [[Guyana]], '''''lapa''''' in Venezuela, and '''''lappe''''' on the island of [[Trinidad]]. Although lowland pacas are not in danger of being extinct, local extinctions have occurred due to [[habitat destruction]].

There is much confusion in the nomenclature of this and related species; see [[agouti]]. In particular, the popular term ''agouti'' or ''common agouti'' normally refers to species of the distinct  genus ''[[Dasyprocta]]'' (such as the [[Central American agouti]], ''Dasyprocta punctata''). Sometimes the word ''agouti'' is also used for a [[polyphyly|polyphyletic]] grouping uniting the families [[Cuniculidae]] and [[Dasyproctidae]], which, besides the pacas and common agoutis, includes also the [[acouchi]]s (''Myoprocta''). ''Cuniculus'' is the appropriate genus name instead of ''Agouti'' based on a 1998 ruling of the [[International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature]] as the lowland paca's genus.<ref name=msw3_2>{{MSW3 Woods|id=13400269}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The word {{lang|tpk|paca}} comes from a word in the [[Tupi language]] that designates the animal but also means 'awaken, alert'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fflch.usp.br/dlcv/tupi/vocabulario.htm |title=Curso de Tupi Antigo |accessdate=2012-09-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809053512/http://www.fflch.usp.br/dlcv/tupi/vocabulario.htm |archivedate=2012-08-09 }}</ref><ref>Ferreira, A. B. H.; ''Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa''; 2nd ed.; Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira; 1986; pp. 1, 243</ref>
{{lang|nah|Tepezcuintle}} is of [[Nahuatl]] origin, meaning 'mountain-dog', from {{lang|nah|tepetl}}, 'mountain' + {{lang|nah|itzquintli}}, 'dog'.

== Description ==
[[File:Die vergleichende Osteologie (1821) Cuniculus paca.jpg|thumb|Skeleton]]
[[File:Paca skull. Cuniculus paca 01.jpg|thumb|Skull of a lowland paca]]
The lowland paca has coarse fur without underfur, dark brown to black on the upper body and white or yellowish on the underbelly. It usually has three to five rows of white spots along its sides, against a dark grey background. It has thick strong legs, with four digits in the forefeet and five in the hind feet (the first and fifth are reduced); the nails function as hooves. The tail is short and hairless. The [[zygomatic arch]] is expanded laterally and dorsally and is used as a [[Resonating chamber (anatomy)|resonating chamber]] - a unique feature among mammals.

An adult lowland paca weighs between {{convert|6|and|12|kg|lb}}. Each litter has one young lowland paca, sometimes two. They usually have one to three young a year with a gestation period of about 115–120 days. Pacas are sexually mature at about 1 year. A paca usually lives up to 13 years.

The lowland paca can carry [[leishmaniasis]] and [[trypanosomiasis]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Cuniculus paca: Emmons, L.|date=2016-03-01|doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-2.rlts.t699a22197347.en|doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Habits ==
[[File:HumedoTepezc 02.jpg|thumb|Lowland pacas feeding on fruits]]

The lowland paca is mostly nocturnal and solitary and does not vocalize very much. It lives in forested habitats near water, preferably smaller rivers, and dig simple burrows about 2 m (6&nbsp;ft 7 in) below the surface, usually with more than one exit. It can also sometimes live in burrows created by other animals. The lowland paca is a good swimmer and usually heads for the water to escape danger, as it can stay under water for several minutes. It also is a very good climber and it searches for fruit in the trees.

The lowland paca can be considered an important seed distributor, since its diet includes leaves, stems, roots, tubers, nuts,<ref name="sta.uwi.edu">{{cite web |title=The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago |url=https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents/ogatt/Cuniculus_paca%20-%20Lowland%20Paca%20or%20Lappe_0.pdf |website=The University of the West Indies at St Augustine}}</ref> seeds, herbs<ref name="sta.uwi.edu"/> and fruit, especially [[avocado]]s, [[mango]]s and [[Sapote|zapotes]], as well as [[Bactris plumeriana|coco macaque]], [[Manilkara bidentata|balata]], wild chataigne, [[hog plum]], [[pomerac]] and [[guava]].<ref name="sta.uwi.edu"/> Introduced species such as jack-fruit and buri are also eaten.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cuniculus_paca/ | title=Cuniculus paca (Lowland paca) | website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref> It sometimes stores food. Lowland paca also have necrophagy behavior, consuming carcasses of decomposing animals, possibly to supply protein demands of their diet.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Geuster |first1=Cleiton José |last2=Favretto |first2=Mario Arthur |title=Registro de necrofagia em paca (Cuniculus paca) |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369507237 |journal=Acta Biológica Catarinense |date=2023 |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=13–16|doi=10.21726/abc.v10i1.1959 |s2cid=258012401 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Economic and ecological aspects ==
The lowland paca is considered an agricultural pest for [[yam (vegetable)|yam]], [[cassava]], [[sugar cane]], [[maize]] and other food crops. Its meat is highly prized. It is plentiful in protected habitats, and hence not in danger of extinction, but overall its numbers have been much reduced because of hunting and [[habitat destruction]]. It is easily bred and raised in farms,<ref>{{cite book|title=Domestication and husbandry of the paca (Agouti paca)|year=1995|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|isbn=9789251036402}}</ref> although the taste is said to be inferior (perhaps unpleasant) when farmed. Some of the lowland paca predators include [[ocelot]]s, [[jaguar]]s, [[coyote]]s, [[bush dog]]s, [[American crocodile|crocodiles]], and [[boa constrictor]]s.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Mammals}}
* [[Agouti]]
* [[Mountain paca]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Cuniculus paca|Lowland Paca}}
{{Wikispecies|Cuniculus paca|Lowland Paca}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040901074236/http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=584738 ITIS database]
*[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Agouti_paca.html Animal Diversity Web]
*{{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/*/www.cab.int.co/cab/biocab/biofauna/especie/agoutipaca/ Convenio Andrés Bello], archived
*[http://www.zoochat.com/42/spotted-paca-chester-zoo-7-september-35698/ Zoochat image]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q33936}}

[[Category:Cuniculus (genus)]]
[[Category:Hystricognath rodents]]
[[Category:Mammals of Argentina]]
[[Category:Rodents of Central America]]
[[Category:Mammals of Bolivia]]
[[Category:Rodents of Brazil]]
[[Category:Mammals of Colombia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Cuba]]
[[Category:Mammals of Ecuador]]
[[Category:Mammals of French Guiana]]
[[Category:Mammals of Guyana]]
[[Category:Mammals of Mexico]]
[[Category:Mammals of Paraguay]]
[[Category:Mammals of Peru]]
[[Category:Mammals of Suriname]]
[[Category:Mammals of Uruguay]]
[[Category:Mammals of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Mammals of Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Mammals of the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1766]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]