Spotted Paca
Spotted PacaSpotted PacaSpotted PacaSpotted Paca

Spotted Paca

Cuniculus paca

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Yasuní National Park
12 Verified records at Yasuní National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
🌙 Nocturnal When it's active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am)

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 →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Paca sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Yasuní National Park

Capybara
LC

Capybara

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

20–30% · Possible
Black Agouti
LC

Black Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta fuliginosa

10–20% · With luck
Long-tailed Porcupine

Long-tailed Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Coendou longicaudatus

Insufficient data
bicolored arboreal rice rat
LC

bicolored arboreal rice rat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Oecomys bicolor

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

Long-tailed Tree Rat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Makalata macrura

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

Amazon Bamboo Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Dactylomys dactylinus

Insufficient data
Yellow-crowned Brush-tailed Rat
LC

Yellow-crowned Brush-tailed Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Isothrix bistriata

Insufficient data
Northern Amazon Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

Northern Amazon Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus igniventris

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

South American spiny mouse

Mammal

Scolomys melanops

Insufficient data
Green Acouchi
LC

Green Acouchi

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Myoprocta pratti

Insufficient data
Spiny Tree Rat
LC

Spiny Tree Rat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Mesomys hispidus

Insufficient data
Western Amazonian Oryzomys
LC

Western Amazonian Oryzomys

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Hylaeamys perenensis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
5–10
Mar
<5
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
20–30
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
Dec

🌙 When They're Spotted

Most active during nighttime hours (6pm–6am) · across all parks (global)

🌙Nocturnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
30–40%
2 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
20–30%
3 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
10–20%
4 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
5 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
5–10%
6 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
5–10%
7 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
5–10%
8 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
5–10%
9 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
10 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
11 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
12 Chapada Diamantina National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
13 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
14 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
15 Emas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
16 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
17 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
18 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
19 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
20 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
21 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
22 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
23 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
24 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
25 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
26 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
27 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
28 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
29 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
30 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
31 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Spotted Paca in Yasuní National Park?

About 12% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Paca sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Spotted Paca in Yasuní National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Spotted Paca in Yasuní National Park in our monthly data.

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