Pacarana tomando um banho natural - sem sabão

What you are seeing is a Pacarana in its natural habitat displaying normal behavior. Please subscribe and share.

This cute little fellow is a young pacarana next to a river in Peru. Sightings are very rare and until recently very little has been known about their natural history and behavior.

So, it is understandable that the viral 'shower rat' video has caused confusion even among zoologists.

The pacarana is a little-studied rodent found on the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjacent Amazonia.

In Peru they are known locally as ‘machateros’ meaning ‘machete wielders’ due to their very large front teeth which they use to fell plants to reach the fruit.

Their scientific name ‘Dinomys Brackickii’ means “terrible mouse” which is a misnomenclature as they are naturally docile and affectionate contact animals.

Pacarana have been found to make tame and affectionate pets even choosing to sleep curled up on people’s laps*. British zoologist Karl Shuker notes that “…They actively seek out their human visitors to nuzzle them and rub themselves against their legs almost like cats, or even to be picked up and carried just like playful puppies.”

We understand that concerns have been raised that the pacarana in the misnamed 'Shower Rat' video may be exhibiting unusual movements that suggest discomfort. Please observe this clip of a pacarana in its natural habitat performing exactly the same actions.

When not wet pacarana resemble gigantic guinea pigs and are the third largest rodent worldwide. They can grow to almost a meter long and weigh up to 15 kg (more than 30 lbs).

This clip shows Pepe Lucho the famous "Machetero of Chanchamayo", a beloved celebrity in the province:

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Since first discovered in 1873 relatively little has been learned about the pacarana. Now firmly on the world stage we hope people can become better informed about this charming creature.


* Meritt D.A. (1984) The Pacarana, Dinomys branickii. In: Ryder O.A., Byrd M.L. (eds) One Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

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