PACA

also called Spotted Cavy (Cuniculus paca), stout-bodied, tailless rodent, family Dasyproctidae (order Rodentia), found chiefly in lowland forests from Mexico to Brazil. A white-spotted, brown animal, large for a rodent, the paca may attain a length of about 75 cm (29 inches). It has a relatively large head and bony swellings on its cheekbones that serve as resonating chambers in sound production. The paca is nocturnal and eats leaves, roots, and fruit, occasionally damaging sugarcane or other crops. It lives in a burrow, swims well, and when pursued heads for water in an attempt to escape. The female usually bears one young per birth. The mountain paca (Stictomys, or Cuniculus, taczanowskii) is a highland paca found in the Andes. It is smaller than the lowland form and has thicker fur. Both species are locally valued as food. For false paca, see pacarana.