Spotted Paca
Cuniculus paca
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderRodentia (Rosegadors)
- FamilyCuniculidae (Pacas)
- GenusCuniculus (Pacas)
- SpeciesCuniculus paca (Spotted Paca)
The lowland paca (Cuniculus paca), also known as the spotted paca, is a species of rodent. It has coarse dark brown to black fur, a pale underbelly, and typically 3–5 rows of white spots along its sides. Adults weigh 6 to 12 kilograms (13 to 26 lb). Its zygomatic arch is expanded laterally and dorsally to form a resonating chamber, a feature unique among mammals. Lowland pacas are primarily nocturnal and solitary. They inhabit forested areas near water, live in burrows, and are strong swimmers that commonly enter the water to escape danger. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Chirripó National Park
Red-tailed Squirrel
Sciurus granatensis
Variegated Squirrel
Sciurus variegatoides
Central American Agouti
Dasyprocta punctata
Sumichrast's Vesper Rat
Nyctomys sumichrasti
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine
Sphiggurus mexicanus
Mexican Deer Mouse
Peromyscus mexicanus
Central American Dwarf Squirrel
Microsciurus alfari
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Spotted Paca at Chirripó National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
🌙 When They're Spotted
Most active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there