Hispaniolan Hutia
Encyclopedia
The Hispaniolan Hutia is one of several hutia
(also called zagouti, and jutía in Spanish) species to have inhabited at some time the island of Hispaniola
(island shared by Haiti
and the Dominican Republic
). The P. aedium is the only scientifically confirmed extant species of the Plagiodontia genus; other species are either extinct or being debatedly catalogued as P. aedium subspecies
. The name Plagiodontia means "oblique tooth" in Greek.
Captive hutias have been observed to be nocturnal and arboreal and to use nest boxes placed high off the ground. Wild P. aedium are reported to be active only at night, to hide during the day, to feed mainly on roots and fruits, and to live in male-female pairs. Reports also stated that three or four individuals commonly occupy the same burrow system. Specimens of P. hylaeum were caught in December in hollow trees near a lagoon
; four pregnant females each contained a single embryo. Purportedly, captive female P. aedium have an estrous cycle of 10 days, a gestation
period of 119 days, and apparently a single offspring. Recorded gestation has been 123-150 days and litter
sizes of one to two young in this species, which are highly precocial
, much unlike most rodents, which are totally helpless when born. A captive P. aedium was still alive after 9 years and 11 months. Individuals communicate through soft, almost bird-like chirps.
s from sea level to 2,000 meters in elevation, that some populations use burrow
s and feed near the ground, and that other populations may den in tree cavities and move through the trees, rather than descend to ground level.
Five of the seven species in this genus are known only by skeletal remains, often found in association with human kitchen midden
s. These five species probably disappeared by the seventeenth century because of excessive hunting by people. P. aedium and P. hylaeum have been greatly reduced in range and numbers and are threatened by deforestation
, hunting, and predation
by the introduced mongoose
(Herpestes auropunctatus). The human population of Hispaniola is increasing, most of the island's forest cover is being cleared for agriculture, and hutias are killed whenever encountered.
The IUCN regards P. hylaeum as a subspecies of P. aedium. P. a. hylaeum is called the Dominican hutia, while the nominate race, P. a. aedium is referred to as Cuvier
's hutia. Recent surveys in Haiti have found P. aedium to be somewhat more common than once estimated, though still in jeopardy, and also have received unconfirmed reports of the possible survival of P. velozi. The IUCN Red List classifies the P. aedium as "vulnerable".
Currently, the hutias may only be locally common in two places in the Dominican Republic: Jaragua
and Del Este National Parks. Its presence in other parks is inferred but unconfirmed. There were sightings in 2005 which were confirmed photographically (E.M. Fernández, et al. - see external links) in the Bahoruco region.
Hutia
Hutias are moderately large cavy-like rodents of the family Capromyidae that inhabit the Caribbean Islands. They range in size from , and can weigh up to . Twenty species of hutia have been identified, and half may be extinct. They resemble the nutria in some respects...
(also called zagouti, and jutía in Spanish) species to have inhabited at some time the island of Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
(island shared by Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
). The P. aedium is the only scientifically confirmed extant species of the Plagiodontia genus; other species are either extinct or being debatedly catalogued as P. aedium subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. The name Plagiodontia means "oblique tooth" in Greek.
Description and behaviour
Head and body length is about 312 mm and tail length is about 153 mm. The listed adult weight as 1,267 grams. In the species P. hylaeum, head and body length is 348-405 mm and tail length is 125-45 mm. Judging from the skeletal remains, the largest species in the genus is P. ipnaeum (or Samaná hutia) and the smallest is P. spelaeum. In the living species, the short, dense pelage is brownish or grayish on the upper parts and buffy on the underparts. The tail is scaly and practically naked. Both the forefoot and the hind foot have five digits, all armed with claws except the thumb, which has a short, blunt nail. Females have three pairs of lateral thoracic mammae.Captive hutias have been observed to be nocturnal and arboreal and to use nest boxes placed high off the ground. Wild P. aedium are reported to be active only at night, to hide during the day, to feed mainly on roots and fruits, and to live in male-female pairs. Reports also stated that three or four individuals commonly occupy the same burrow system. Specimens of P. hylaeum were caught in December in hollow trees near a lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
; four pregnant females each contained a single embryo. Purportedly, captive female P. aedium have an estrous cycle of 10 days, a gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
period of 119 days, and apparently a single offspring. Recorded gestation has been 123-150 days and litter
Litter (animal)
A litter is the offspring at one birth of animals from the same mother and usually from one set of parents. The word is most often used for the offspring of mammals, but can be used for any animal that gives birth to multiple young. In comparison, a group of eggs and the offspring that hatch from...
sizes of one to two young in this species, which are highly precocial
Precocial
In biology, the term precocial refers to species in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. The opposite developmental strategy is called "altricial," where the young are born or hatched helpless. Extremely precocial species may be called...
, much unlike most rodents, which are totally helpless when born. A captive P. aedium was still alive after 9 years and 11 months. Individuals communicate through soft, almost bird-like chirps.
Ecology
Hispaniolan hutias inhabit forests. It is reported that they occupy rough hillsides and ravineRavine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
s from sea level to 2,000 meters in elevation, that some populations use burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s and feed near the ground, and that other populations may den in tree cavities and move through the trees, rather than descend to ground level.
Five of the seven species in this genus are known only by skeletal remains, often found in association with human kitchen midden
Midden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
s. These five species probably disappeared by the seventeenth century because of excessive hunting by people. P. aedium and P. hylaeum have been greatly reduced in range and numbers and are threatened by deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
, hunting, and predation
Predation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
by the introduced mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
(Herpestes auropunctatus). The human population of Hispaniola is increasing, most of the island's forest cover is being cleared for agriculture, and hutias are killed whenever encountered.
The IUCN regards P. hylaeum as a subspecies of P. aedium. P. a. hylaeum is called the Dominican hutia, while the nominate race, P. a. aedium is referred to as Cuvier
Frédéric Cuvier
Frédéric Cuvier was a French zoologist. He was the younger brother of noted naturalist and zoologist Georges Cuvier....
's hutia. Recent surveys in Haiti have found P. aedium to be somewhat more common than once estimated, though still in jeopardy, and also have received unconfirmed reports of the possible survival of P. velozi. The IUCN Red List classifies the P. aedium as "vulnerable".
Currently, the hutias may only be locally common in two places in the Dominican Republic: Jaragua
Jaragua National Park
Jaragua National Park is a national park of the Dominican Republic. Jaragua National Park is located in Pedenales Province in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic...
and Del Este National Parks. Its presence in other parks is inferred but unconfirmed. There were sightings in 2005 which were confirmed photographically (E.M. Fernández, et al. - see external links) in the Bahoruco region.
External Links/Sources
- The last survivors conservation project
- Hispaniolan Hutias
- Parque Nacional Armando Bermúdez
- Parque Nacional Jaragua Grupo Jaragua
- Plagiodontia aedium The Animal Diversity Web
- West Indian Mammals Includes the best photos of P. aedium available on the web.