Mesocapromys nanus (G. M. Allen, 1917)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Echimyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 552-604 : 557

8.

Dwarf Hutia

Mesocapromys nanus

French: Hutia nain / German: Zwerghutia / Spanish: Jutia enana

Taxonomy. Capromys nana G. M. Allen, 1917 ,

“Sierra de Hato Nuevo, Province of Matanzas, Cuba.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SW Cuba, in Ciénaga de Zapata, Matanzas Province, but now possibly extinct, as it has not been detected since 1978.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 205 mm, tail 164 mm; weight 400-450 g. The Dwarf Hutia is the smallest hutia and among the darkest of all hutia species. Dorsum is dark ferruginous or dark brown-rufous that contrasts conspicuously with slightly paler venter; urogenital area is pale. Head is uniformly dark ferruginous or dark brownrufous but becomes paler around muzzle. Prehensile tail is similar in color to dorsum and c.83% of head-body length. Foot and hand pads are whitish and slightly pinkish. Hand has four digits with reduced pollex, and foot has five digits, including reduced hallux. Foot and hand pads have tiny hexagonal footpads. Females possess two lateral, two pectoral, and two abdominal mammae. Cranial conformation is similar to that of the small-sized Eared Hutia ( Mesocapromys auritus ), but proportions are distinctly smaller. Jaw of the Dwarf Hutia is also smallerin size; cheekteeth are notably small.

Habitat. Grasslands of Cladiumjamaicense ( Cyperaceae ). Dwarf Hutias are likely scansorial.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Dwarf Hutia is likely nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Dwarf Hutia may be extinct, so urgent ecological studies are needed to verify its status; it has not been found in the wild since 1978. Fossil record suggests that the Dwarf Hutia was widespread prior to human arrival on Cuba.

Bibliography. Allen (1917), Borroto & Woods (2012a), Borroto, Mancina et al. (2012), Camacho et al. (1994), Varona (1970, 1974, 1980a), Woods & Howland (1979), Woods et al. (2001).

Figures

1. Hispaniolan Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium), 2. Jamaican Hutia (Geocapromys brownu), 3. Ingraham’s Hutia (Geocapromys ingrahami), 4. Desmarest’s Hutia (Capromys pilorides), 5. Cabrera’s Hutia (Mesocapromys angelcabrerai), 6. Eared Hutia (Mesocapromys auritus), 7. Black-tailed Hutia (Mesocapromys melanurus), 8. Dwarf Hutia (Mesocapromys nanus), 9. Prehensile-tailed Hutia (Mysateles prehensilis), 10. Garrido Tree Hutia (Mysateles garridoi), 11. Groove-toothed Spiny-rat (Carterodon sulcidens)

Distribution. SW Cuba, in Ciénaga de Zapata, Matanzas Province, but now possibly extinct, as it has not been detected since 1978.