cœlogenys

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of hystricomorph rodents, of the family Dasyproctidœ, containing the paca, C. paca, characterized by the enormous expansion and excavation of the bones of the cheeks, whence the name. The paca is the only living representative of the genus, but remains of other species, as C. laticeps and C. major, have been found in the bone-caves of Brazil.