Mesocapromys auritus (Varona, 1970)

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 : 556-557

6.

Eared Hutia

Mesocapromys auritus

French: Hutia oreillard / German: Langohr-Zwerghutia / Spanish: Jutia de orejas grandes

Other common names: Large-eared Hutia

Taxonomy. Capromys auritus Varona, 1970 ,

“Cuba, Las Villas Province, Archipiélago de Sabana, Cayo Fragoso (22°41°N, 79°27'W).”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Cayo Fragoso in the Sabana Archipelago (off NC coast of Cuba). Introduced into both Cayo Pasaje and Cayo Sagra in 1988 (NC Cuba).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 287 mm, tail 198 mm; weight up to 1 kg. The Eared Hutia is medium-sized and has an agouti dorsum. It is paler on lowerlateral sides and has long whitish guard hairs on flank and limbs. Head is uniformly gray-agouti and is similar to dorsal color. Prehensile tail is c.69-74% of head-body length and sharply contrasts with dorsum, being much paler and rufous or orange, with short black stripe at distal dorsal end. Venteris white from chin to scrotum, with some more grayish underfur. Inguinal area is pale. Foot and hand pads are whitish or slightly pinkish, and are covered by tiny hexagonal bumps. Hands have four digits and a reduced pollex, and feet have similar colors with five digits, including reduced hallux. Females have two lateral, two pectoral, and two abdominal mammae. Cranial conformation is similar to that of other small and medium-sized species of Mesocapromys . Jaw has distinctly longer coronoid and angular processes than other Mesocapromys . Dorsal part of skull is flatter, and rostrum and dental width are broader than other Mesocapromys . Chromosomal complement is 2n = 36 and FN = 64.

Habitat. On the ground in sandy areas, flooded mangroves, and other forest habitats. The Eared Hutia builds nests with sticks from red mangroves ( Rhizophora mangle, Rhizophoraceae ). Nests are large (197 x 281 cm) to small (61 x 42 cm), depending on habitat. It is mainly terrestrial.

Food and Feeding. Eared Hutias feed on parts of red mangrove, white mangrove ( Laguncularia racemosa, Combretaceae ), and occasionally black mangrove ( Avicennia germinans, Acanthaceae ). They are known to forage near the ground and include bark from branches at bases oftrees; they sometimes use these branches to build ground nests.

Breeding. Little is known about reproductive biology of the Eared Hutia. It is reported to be reproductively active throughout the year, producing offspring with a 1:1 sex ratio. One neonate weighed 61 g and was 210 mm in length.

Activity patterns. The Eared Hutia is crepuscular and nocturnal; it reportedly becomes active one hour before sunset.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Eared Hutia is social and lives in a family group within stick nests placed on the ground.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The [UCN Red List. The Eared Hutia has been introduced to small islands off the Cuban coast that serve as refuges for this rare, mangrove specialist. Additional ecological studies are required to understand its rarity, why it disappeared from mainland Cuba, and likely negative interactions with introduced Roof Rats (Rattus rattus) and Desmarest’s Hutia ( Capromys pilorides ), especially because of their use of the stick nests of Eared Hutias. Refuge areas that were estimated to have 115 nests (600-800 estimated individuals) in 1990 increased to 330 nests (660— 1320 individuals) by 2009. Some optimistic counts recently recorded 2500 individuals.

Bibliography. Allen (1891), Borroto (2002), Borroto & Woods (2012a), Hernandez & Carnero (1992), Hernandez & Sanchez (1987), Kratochvil et al. (1978, 1980), Manojina, Gonzalez & Hernandez (1989, 1994), Varona (1970, 1974), Woods (1982), 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. Cayo Fragoso in the Sabana Archipelago (off NC coast of Cuba). Introduced into both Cayo Pasaje and Cayo Sagra in 1988 (NC Cuba).