There is one species in this family. The pacarana (Dinomys branickii) is a large rodent found in tropical forests in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia in South America.

It weighs 20-30 pounds. It looks a little like a very large guinea pig. It has a stocky body, a large head, thick, brown fur with rows of white spots, small, rounded ears, powerful legs with sharp claws, and a long, thick tail.

Pacaranas are herbivores. Most of their diet is made up of fruit, leaves, and plant stems.

They sit back on their hindquarters and hold their food in their front paws when they are eating. They are nocturnal and slow-moving, and they live in crevices!