Pakarana (Dinomys branickii) – the only species allocated to this family, resembles pacu. Its body length is about 70 cm, its tail is 20 cm long. It has 4 fingers on its legs. Her fur is dark brown with white stripes on the sides. In terms of its structure, it occupies an intermediate place between pigs, packs and huts. Inhabits rocky areas of the eastern slopes of the Andes, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. This rodent lives in forest areas. It feeds on greens and plant fruits. Like many other rodents, it holds food with its forepaws when feeding. The female gives birth to two cubs. The lifestyle of this rare animal has hardly been studied. 

Pacarana was first found in 1872 in the courtyard of a small Peruvian town, lost among dense forests. Then, for a long time, nothing was known about her.