Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
The Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968 protects hutias from being captured or killed unless a permit is obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Capromys pilorides are not as much of a conservation concern because there still are some areas that have a high density of this species. The only area where the species population has diminished tremendously is in the mountains of eastern Cuba. However, other species of hutias are endangered or have already gone extinct.
Although they are not of immediate concern, a transplantation has taken place in an effort to ensure the survival of Cuban hutias. This transplantation removed some C.pilorides from East Plan Cay and transplanted them to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
There are also some protected areas where the density of C.pilorides has reached 50-100 individuals per hectare. However, there are still some places where their population has diminished greatly such as in the mountains of eastern Cuba. (Alvarez & Gonzalez 1991)
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Some areas actually have such an abundance of Capromys pilorides that they harm the vegetation of the area. (Alvarez & Gonzalez 1991)
Humans enjoy the meat from Capromys pilorides because it tastes great and since the animal is of substantial size each hutia provides a significant amount of meat. (Phillips et al. 1991)
Positive Impacts: food
Capromys pilorides are omnivores that generally feed on things such as leaves, fruits, and bark from trees. However, they have been known to also feed on small vertebrates, including small lizards.
They have easy access to the vegetation high up in the trees due to their great climbing ability, but the majority of the time they feed on vegetation closer to ground level.
Animal Foods: reptiles; insects
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; fruit
Primary Diet: omnivore
Capromys pilorides lives only in Cuba and on several, small nearby islands, however they occupy many different habitats throughout Cuba. (Phillips et al. 1991)
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
Capromys pilorides are widespread throughout all of Cuba. They are found in all types of habitats such as montane cloud forests, arid coastal semi-deserts, semi-deciduous forests, low, marshy areas and even in the mountains of eastern Cuba. Cuban hutias can possibly be divided into two groups: those that live in northern Cuba and those that live in southern Cuba. Those that live in the north tend to live in marshy areas where an abundance of red mangroves grow. This group generally lives in the branches and roots of the mangroves that grow there. However, those in the south tend to be more terrestrial.
(Poiez et al. 1992, Phillips et al. 1991, Alvarez & Gonzalez 1991)
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; scrub forest ; mountains
Aquatic Biomes: coastal
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 11.3 years.
Cuban hutia can range anywhere from 20 to 60 cm in length (varying from individual to individual) and between 1 and 9 kg in weight. Capromys pilorides are the largest species of hutias. They are, on average, 60.96 cm long and 7 kg in weight. Capromys pilorides have short, stocky legs which cause them to move in a "waddling" motion. However, in times when they need to move quickly (like while being chased) they are capable of hopping. Capromys pilorides have thick, coarse fur with the dorsal area generally a darker shade than the ventral side. The shades of fur can vary greatly from black and brown to yellowish shades or even reddish shades. The tail is completely covered with hair and is a solid shade of color. Capromys pilorides have large claws on their feet, which aid in climbing. Cuban hutias and their close relatives (C. garridoi and C. arboricolus) have a complex stomach divided into three compartments, this is the most complex stomach morphology found in rodents. Females have two lateral thoracic pairs of mammae.
(Phillips et al. 1991, Nowak 1999, Alados et al. 1990)
Range mass: 1.000 to 9.000 kg.
Average mass: 7.000 kg.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Average basal metabolic rate: 3.375 W.
The life expectancy of Cuban hutia in captivity ranges from 8 to 11 years. Their breeding season is year round and they have a gestation period of around 120-126 days. Most Cuban hutias have 1-3 young per birth that weigh on average 8 oz at birth. The young are born precocial, able to move around, well-furred, and with their eyes open. Despite the fact that they are born so well developed, they are not completely weaned for approximately 5 months. In addition, they do not reach sexual maturity until they are about 10 months old.
(Phillips et al. 1991)
Range number of offspring: 1 to 3.
Average number of offspring: 1.800.
Range gestation period: 119 to 130 days.
Average gestation period: 123 days.
Average weaning age: 153 days.
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual
Average birth mass: 240 g.
Average number of offspring: 2.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 304 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 304 days.
Parental Investment: precocial
Desmarest's hutia or the Cuban hutia (Capromys pilorides) is a stout, furry, rat-like mammal found only on Cuba and nearby islands. Growing to about 60 cm (2 ft), it normally lives in pairs and feeds on leaves, fruit, bark and sometimes small animals. It is the largest living hutia (subfamily Capromyinae), a group of rodents native to the Caribbean that are mostly endangered or extinct. Desmarest's hutia remains widespread throughout its range, though one subspecies (C. p. lewisi) native to the nearby Cayman Islands went extinct shortly after European colonization in the 1500s.[2][3]
The Desmarest's hutia has a head-and-body length of 31–60 cm (12–24 in), a tail that is 14–29 cm (5.5–11.4 in) long, and weigh 2.8–8.5 kg (6.2–18.7 lb).[4] It has thick, coarse fur which extends to the tip of the tail. The colour of the body fur varies from black to brown, with a light sand colour and red also seen. The body is stocky and the legs short. It moves with a slow, waddling gait, but can perform a quick hop when pursued. The feet have five toes with large claws which assist the animal in climbing. The stomach is divided into three compartments by constrictions in the gut and is among the most complex of any rodent.[4]
Its karyotype has 2n = 40 and FN = 64.[2]
The Desmarest's hutia is found in a wide range of habitats. In northern Cuba, populations tend to be centred on areas where there are abundant mangroves, while southern populations tend to favour a more terrestrial habitat. They are abundant in Guantánamo Province, particularly around the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. In the mountainous areas of eastern Cuba, numbers of Desmarest's hutia are decreasing.
The Desmarest's hutia is found only in Cuba, but is widespread throughout its range. They are found on the main island, Isla de la Juventud, the Sabana archipelago, the Doce Laqunas archipelago and many of the other islands and cays of the Cuban archipelago. An extinct subspecies, C. p. lewisi, formerly lived in the Cayman Islands before it was wiped out shortly after European colonization.[3] This subspecies may have been the subject of a report by Francis Drake when he visited the islands, in which he spoke of "little beast-like cats" and "coneys" throughout the area.[5]
Desmarest's hutias normally live in pairs, but can be found individually or in small groups. They are diurnal and do not burrow, so during the night they rest in hollows in rocks or trees. They are omnivorous but eat mostly bark, leaves and fruit. Occasionally they will take small vertebrates such as lizards. Both males and females scent mark their territory with urine. They breed throughout the year with a gestation period of between 110 and 140 days (normally around 120 to 126 days), although peak breeding season is in June/July. They normally produce between one and three young, weighing an average of 230 g (8 oz). The young are precocial, with fur, fully open eyes and the ability to walk. They are weaned at around five months and reach sexual maturity at around ten months. In captivity they live for eight to eleven years.
Hutias were traditionally hunted for food in Cuba as their flesh was agreeable and their size meant they provided a substantial meal.[6] The Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968 made it illegal to hunt or kill hutias without a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. In some areas they are so abundant that they cause damage to crops and are viewed as a pest.
The genus name Capromys derives from the two ancient greek words κάπρος (kápros), meaning "pig, boar", and μῦς (mûs), meaning "mouse, rat".[7][8]
First described by Pallas in 1788 as Mys pilorides, it was later noted that Desmarest's hutia did not belong in that genus, and it was placed in the genus Capromys by Tate in 1935. Five extant subspecies are recorded: ciprianoi, doceleguas, gundlachianus, pilorides, and relictus. Studies have so far shown no genetic differences between the two subspecies ciprianoi and relictus found on Isla de la Juventud, but a 5% sequence deviation by gundlachianus found on Cayo Fragaso.[2] The common name, Desmarest's hutia, is for Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest who described the species in 1822 with the synonym fourniere.
The extinct subspecies C. p. lewisi from the Cayman Islands is known from abundant subfossil material. It is close to the common Cuban Capromys pilorides, but smaller. The earliest radiocarbon records are latest Pleistocene and the latest are from around 1600 CE.[9][10]
Within Capromyidae, the closest relatives of Capromys are the genera Mesocapromys and Mysateles. The three genera are the sister group to Geocapromys, and these 4 taxa belong to the tribe Capromyini. In turn, this clade is the sister group to Plagiodontia.
Genus-level cladogram of the CapromyidaeTrinomys (Atlantic spiny rats)
Capromyidae Plagiodontini Capromyini The cladogram has been reconstructed from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA characters.[11][12][13][14][15][16]
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Desmarest's hutia or the Cuban hutia (Capromys pilorides) is a stout, furry, rat-like mammal found only on Cuba and nearby islands. Growing to about 60 cm (2 ft), it normally lives in pairs and feeds on leaves, fruit, bark and sometimes small animals. It is the largest living hutia (subfamily Capromyinae), a group of rodents native to the Caribbean that are mostly endangered or extinct. Desmarest's hutia remains widespread throughout its range, though one subspecies (C. p. lewisi) native to the nearby Cayman Islands went extinct shortly after European colonization in the 1500s.
