Agoutis are shy rodents. Rodents are a family that gnaw (chew) with 2 pairs of sharp front teeth called incisors. They are small and only weigh up to 10 pounds. They have coarse hair and a rounded body. Their back end has reddish-colored fur.
Agoutis eat only plants, like fruits and seeds (herbivores). They bury the leftover seeds for later. Sometimes the seeds grow into new trees. Because of this, agoutis are sometimes called "seed-spreaders.”