The Family Dasyproctidae, commonly known as agoutis, comprises medium-sized rodents native to Central and South America. Agoutis are herbivorous, feeding primarily on fruits, seeds, and nuts, and are important seed dispersers in tropical forests. They have strong hind limbs for running and jumping, short ears, and a compact, rounded body. Agoutis are mostly diurnal and solitary, with sharp incisors adapted for cracking hard seeds. Ecologically, they play a key role in maintaining forest regeneration and biodiversity by caching and dispersing seeds across their habitats.