Mesocapromys angelcabrerai, Varona, 1979

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

5.

Cabrera’s Hutia

Mesocapromys angelcabrerai

French: Hutia de Cabrera / German: Cabrera-Zwerghutia / Spanish: Jutia de Cabrera

Taxonomy. Mesocapromys angelcabrerai Varona, 1979 ,

“Cayos de Ana Maria, al Sur de Camagtiey (21°30’N, 78°40°'W), Cuba.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Cuba (Ciego de Avila Province) in the coastal mainland E of Jacaro and in Cayos Ana Maria and Cayos Salinas around Canal Pasa Seca (off S Cuba). Introduced to Cayo La Loma in 2005 (off S Cuba).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 252 mm, tail 176 mm; weight up to 483 g. Cabrera’s Hutia is small and has dark agouti dorsal color and whitish venter. Larger number of rufous or gray hairs, with a darker subapical dorsal band interspersed through dorsal pelage, makes Cabrera’s Hutia darker than other species of Mesocapromys . Head is uniformly agouti and is similar in color to dorsum. Prehensile tail is ¢.70% of head-body length and does not contrast with dorsum, being agouti along its length, butit has short black stripe on its dorsal terminus. Venteris white or buff-white from chin to scrotum, with some more whitish underfur. Urogenital area is similarly pale. Ears of Cabrera’s Hutia are proportionally large compared with head length. Foot and hand pads are whitish orslightly pinkish and are covered by tiny hexagonal processes. Hand has reduced pollex and four digits; hindfoot hasfive digits, including reduced hallux. Females have two lateral, two pectoral, and two abdominal mammae. As other small or mid-sized species of Mesocapromys , skull has wing-like pterygoids, rear sutures ofincisive foramina, and paraoccipital process with length shorter or equal to tympanic bulla. Jaw has distinct short coronoid and thinner angular processes compared with other Mesocapromys ; coronoid process is placed lower than condyle. Dorsal part of skull is convex, rostrum is short and narrow, and maxillary tooth rows are slightly bowed laterally outward. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 36 and FN = 64.

Habitat. Exclusively on the ground in red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle, Rhizophoraceae ) habitats. Cabrera’s Hutias build nests with sticks from red mangroves. Ground nests are large (74 x 65 cm) or (20 x 30 cm), depending on patch size of available habitat. Cabrera’s Hutia is mainly terrestrial but might also climb, aided by its prehensile tail.

Food and Feeding. Cabrera’s Hutias feed almost exclusively on red mangrove at or near the ground or while positioned on limbs. Leaves are apparently preferred, but bark from small and larger branches and trunk is also eaten.

Breeding. Cabrera’s Hutia is reported to reproduce through the year, producing young with a 1:1 sex ratio and possibly two litters per year. Females reach sexual maturity at a weight of ¢.340 g and head-body length near 383 mm; males reach sexual maturity at a slightly lower body mass of ¢.300 g.

Activity patterns. Cabrera’s Hutia is crepuscular or nocturnal, initiating activity an hour before sunset. On rare occasions,it may be active during the day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Cabrera’s Hutia is social and lives in family groups of 2—4 individuals, occasionally up to six individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Cabrera’s Hutia was reintroduced to new small islands off Cuba, which serve as refuge for this rare and endangered red mangrove specialist. Further ecological studies of Cabrera’s Hutias are required because ofits rarity, its disappearance from Cuba, and competition with introduced Roof Rats (Rattus rattus), especially use of their stick nests. Occurrence on small refuge islands makes Cabrera’s Hutia a rather fragile taxa for which much remains to be known. Fortunately, limited size of the social group and construction ofstick nests make Cabrera’s Hutia relatively easy to survey and count. Numbers of nests were estimated at 177 in 2007 and increased slightly to 190 (380-760 individuals) by 2009. Nevertheless,its reliance on red mangrove habitat means that human disturbances such as fire, hunting, or exotic introductions have lead to its near extirpation in its native habitat.

Bibliography. Allen (1891), Borroto (2002), Borroto & Woods (2012a), Camacho et al. (1994), Chapman (1901), Kratochvil et al. (1978, 1980), Silva et al. (2007b), Varona (1974, 1979), Woods (1982), Woods & Howland (1979), Woods etal. (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. S Cuba (Ciego de Avila Province) in the coastal mainland E of Jacaro and in Cayos Ana Maria and Cayos Salinas around Canal Pasa Seca (off S Cuba). Introduced to Cayo La Loma in 2005 (off S Cuba).