Discover

Today
Animals
Explore
Archive
Search

Use it

Classroom
Resources
Field lab
Quiz
Saved

Trust

Methodology
Sources
Corrections
Accessibility
Contributors

Details

About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
Newsletter

Animal profile

Lowland Paca

Cuniculus paca

MammaliaTropical forest near permanent water, from lowland rainforest to gallery forestLeast Concern

Field profile

The lowland paca is a stocky nocturnal rodent marked with rows of pale spots along its flanks. It shelters in burrows by day, forages on fallen fruit and seeds by night, and swims readily. It is among the most heavily hunted wild mammals in the Neotropics.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2025-04-27

Lowland Paca

The paca has bony amplifiers in its cheeks

A paca's zygomatic arches are enlarged and hollowed into chambers unlike anything in another mammal. Air pushed into them appears to amplify a low rumbling call, which makes the paca's skull a rare example of built-in acoustic hardware.

Read with evidence →

Lowland Paca | Daily Animal Facts