North American paca (SciiFii)

The North American paca (Cuniculus americanus), also known as the northern paca, is a species of large rodent of the paca family, Cuniculidae, which originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, swamps, marshlands, forests, meadows, open woodlands, and grasslands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The North American paca is almost identical to the lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) of South America, having coarse fur without underfur, dark brown to black on the upper body and white or yellowish on the underbelly. It usually has three to five rows of white spots along its sides, against a dark grey background. It has thick strong legs, with four digits in the forefeet and five in the hind feet (the first and fifth are reduced); the nails function as hooves. The tail is short and hairless. The zygomatic arch is expanded laterally and dorsally and is used as a resonating chamber, a unique feature among mammals. An adult North American paca weighs between 6 and 12 kilograms (13 and 26 lb). Each litter has two young North American pacas, sometimes three. They usually have two to four young a year with a gestation period of about 110–115 days. North American pacas are sexually mature at about 10 months. A North American paca usually lives up to 14 years. The North American paca is mostly nocturnal and solitary and does not vocalize very much. It lives in forested habitats near water, preferably smaller rivers, and dig simple burrows about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) below the surface, usually with more than one exit. It can also sometimes live in burrows created by other animals. The North American paca is a good swimmer and usually heads for the water to escape danger, as it can stay under water for several minutes. It also is a very good climber and it searches for fruit in the trees. The North American paca can be considered an important seed distributor, since its diet includes leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and fruit, especially avocados, mangos and zapotes. It sometimes stores food within its mouth. The conservation status of the North American paca is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American paca's wide range, its immunity against any kind of diseases and viruses, and its tolerance to most of human activities, including being able to adapt to life in the cities and suburbs.