Spotted Paca
Spotted PacaSpotted PacaSpotted PacaSpotted Paca

Spotted Paca

Cuniculus paca

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Manu National Park
15 Verified records at Manu National Park
January 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 →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Paca sighting in Manu National Park, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Manu National Park

Capybara
LC

Capybara

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

20–30% · Possible
Bolivian Squirrel
LC Endemic

Bolivian Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus ignitus

10–20% · With luck
Brown Agouti

Brown Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta variegata

10–20% · With luck
Southern Amazon Red Squirrel
LC

Southern Amazon Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus spadiceus

5–10% · With luck
Bicolor-spined Porcupine
LC

Bicolor-spined Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Coendou bicolor

5–10% · Rare
🐒 No photo available
LC

Bolivian Bamboo Rat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Dactylomys boliviensis

<5% · Rare
Spiny Tree Rat
LC

Spiny Tree Rat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Mesomys hispidus

Insufficient data
Long-tailed Porcupine

Long-tailed Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Coendou longicaudatus

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

Amazon Bamboo Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Dactylomys dactylinus

Insufficient data
Pacarana
LC

Pacarana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Dinomys branickii

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available

Barbara Brown’s Brush-tailed Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Isothrix barbarabrownae

Insufficient data
Amazon Dwarf Squirrel
LC

Amazon Dwarf Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Microsciurus flaviventer

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
<5
Feb
10–20
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
10–20
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
<5
Nov
5–10
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 Manu National Park?

About 8% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Paca sighting in Manu National Park, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

January has the highest sighting rate for Spotted Paca in Manu National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Manu National Park