Agouti
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For the gene, see Agouti gene.
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Agouti refers to a number of species of Central and South American rodents, whose fur contains a pattern of pigmentation in which individual hairs have several bands of light and dark pigment with black tips.[1][2][3] It can also be used to describe a similar multi-coloured coat in animals such as cats and goats.
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Rodents [edit]
When referring to a rodent, agouti can mean:
- The common agoutis (genus Dasyprocta), are those popularly called agoutis
- Acouchies (genus Myoprocta), commonly called tailed agoutis
- Pacas (genus Cuniculus, which was formerly called Agouti), contains the two species of pacas and is the only genus in the family Cuniculidae
- Agouti is also a guinea pig breed
Colouring [edit]
Agouti can also be used for similar multi-colour patterns in cats, such as the grey strips in tabby cats that are actually a combination of colours.[4] Another example is when used to classify colouring in goats for example, pygmy goats.
See also [edit]
- The agouti signalling peptide is a circulating hormone that acts like an antagonist at melanocortin receptors
- Agouti-related peptide, a neuropeptide produced in the brain by the AgRP/NPY neuron
References [edit]
- ^ "Agouti". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Central American Agouti". UK: BBC. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Mammals: Agouti". USA: San Diego Zoo. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ McHattie, Grace. "Agouti". All about Cats: The Cat Lover's Dictionary. London: Robinson Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 1-85487-266-4.
External links [edit]
Media related to Cuniculus at Wikimedia Commons
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