Mesocapromys melanurus (Poey, 1865)

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

7.

Black-tailed Hutia

Mesocapromys melanurus

French: Hutia a queue noire / German: Schwarzschwanz-Zwerghutia / Spanish: Jutia de cola negra

Other common names: Bushy-tailed Hutia

Taxonomy. Capromys melanurus Poey, 1865 ,

“Manzanillo,” Granma Province, Cuba .

In 2005 C. A. Woods and C. W. Kilpatrick argued that “ Mysateles was paraphyletic and that the affinities of melanurus are with taxa of the genus Mesocapromys rather than with Mysateles .” This designation is not widely accepted (e.g. G. Silva and colleagues in 2007), hence this species is treated here under Mysateles . Recent molecular results from N. S. Upham and B. D. Patterson in 2015 confirmed the M. melanurus generic status, which is close to the other Mesocapromys species. This species includes arboricolus and rufescens as synonyms. Monotypic.

Distribution. E Cuba, W limit to Malagueta Bay and Cauto Estuary, but distribution poorly known.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 309-378 mm,tail 212-322 mm; weight up to 1-6 kg. The Black-tailed Hutia has dark fur compared with other Cuban hutias. It has long and woolly hairs that are intermixed dark brown or nearly blackish long guard hairs and fine light brown bases and blond tips of short underfur. Neck and chin contrast with dorsum by being significantly paler. Venter has patches of yellowish-whitish color, varyingly covering entire under parts, or placed only along midline, over entire venter except ventral part of neck, only between legs, or in other patterns. Brushytail is ¢.80% of head-body length and is covered with long black hairs emerging uniformly from tail scales, which remain visible to the eye. Proportionately, the Black-tailed Hutia has longer tail than all other Cuban hutias. It has prehensile tail like the Prehensile-tailed Hutia ( Mysateles prehensilis ), but usually more laterally flattened, with reduced density due to tail hair loss, especially on mid-ventral and mid-dorsal parts. Compared with species of Capromys , the Black-tailed Hutia has whitish or pinkish plantar and palmar pads covered with tiny hexagonal tubercles. Hand has four digits including reduced pollex. Hindfoot has five digits, with hallux well separated from other digits. Compared with species of Capromys , Mysateles , and Mesocapromys , the Black-tailed Hutia has contrasting scrotal wrinkles that are more evident in urogenital area between anus and penis. Cranially, compared with the Prehensile-tailed Hutia, squamosal upper part is not as protuberant; post-orbital process is also more slender and less developed; frontal bones are slightly more swollen; zygomatic arch appears more slender; incisor alveoli have thinner mandibular symphysis; and angular process is longer and more slender. Skull seems to have straight or wavy dorsalline in lateral view, and naso-intermaxillary sutures have aboral convergences and greater distance between temporal line and paracondylar process. Paroccipital processes are more slender and abut closer to tympanic bulla.

Habitat. Montane rainforests and semideciduous forest on limestone or calcareous substrates, both mixed with cultivated areas. At Palma del Perro and Arroyo Colorado, the Black-tailed Hutia was found in secondary montane sclerophyl forests close to limestone areas, including areas disturbed by human activity. It also occurred in mango plantations ( Mangifera indica , Anacardiaceae ), mountain immortelle ( Erythrina poeppigiana , Fabaceae ), macaguey ( Guapira obtusata, Nyctaginaceae ), sapodilla ( Manilkara zapota, Sapotaceae ), and balsam torch wood ( Amyris balsamifera, Rutaceae ), which they use for nesting and food. The Black-tailed Hutia is found in trees and limestone cavities.

Food and Feeding. Black-tailed Hutias primarily feed on fruit trees and reportedly consumed petioles ofcitrus trees. In Guisa (Granma Province), they feed on 17 plant species, with most of their food items being cultivated plants. In their native habitats, they reportedly relied on cockspur ( Pisonia aculeata, Nyctaginaceae ), leaves of monkey apple ( Clusia rosea, Clusiaceae ), ramoon ( Trophis racemosa, Moraceae ), and the Cuban native Erythrina poeppigiana (Rosaceae) . Rosidae and Dilleniidae are the major groups of plant families eaten and were estimated to represent 41-6% and 25% ofthe diet, respectively.

Breeding. Black-tailed Hutias have litters of 1-2 young. A pregnant female collected in March 1988 had embryos measuring 91-8 mm. Most uterine scare counts were two, with a single case of three scares. Reproduction peaks in February-March, with pregnancy rates of 100% in February but only 80% in March. Up to 50% oflactating females has been pregnant when caught, suggesting postpartum estrus. Sexual maturity of females was correlated with body size; females weighing 450-500 g had corpora lutea and perforated vaginas. Females apparently super-ovulate because up to 44 corpora lutea have been counted. Sexual maturity of males was not achieved until body weights were at least 870 g; at smaller weights, spermatozoids were not found in epididymis.

Activity patterns. During the day, Black-tailed Hutias hide in cavities, tree holes, or ground holes. They are strictly nocturnal, being primarily active between 22:00 h and 04:00 h, but they begin their nightly activity at sunset. They climb trees but appear to be less arboreal than Prehensile-tailed Hutias. They vocalize while climbing and feeding.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Black-tailed Hutia is abundant in Cuba and often considered to be a pest by local people. In and around Parque Nacional Alejandro von Humboldt, they may be more abundant in cultivated fields than in natural habitats. Population trends are highly influenced by hunting pressure in the Guisa area. They are known to be social, commonly observed in opposite-sex pairs, or what are apparently family groups. Males appeared to be more abundant, based on sex ratio estimates and skewed field sampling, which may suggest a polygamous mating system.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCNRed List. It is now illegalto huntall species of hutias on Cuba, which limits harvest for human consumption and allows for increased hutia densities. Eastern Cuba has the highest proportion of preserved habitats, ideal areas for conservation of the Black-tailed Hutia. Nevertheless, due to illegal hunting, populations there seem to have decreased dramatically since the 1980s.

Bibliography. Allen (1891), Borroto & Camacho (2012), Borroto & Woods (2012a), Camacho et al. (1994), Kratochvil et al. (1980), Silva et al. (2007a), Upham & Patterson (2015), Varona (1974, 1979), Woods (1982), Woods & Howland (1979), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005), 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. E Cuba, W limit to Malagueta Bay and Cauto Estuary, but distribution poorly known.