Hutia
Encyclopedia
Hutias are moderately large cavy-like rodent
s of the family Capromyidae that inhabit the Caribbean Islands. They range in size from 20 centimetre, and can weigh up to 7 kg (15.4 lb). Twenty species of hutia have been identified, and half may be extinct
. (Their larger relatives the giant hutia
s, of the family Heptaxodontidae, are entirely extinct.) They resemble the nutria
in some respects. Tails are present, varying from vestiges to prehensile. They have stout bodies and large heads. Most species are herbivorous, though some consume small animals. Instead of burrowing underground, they nest in trees or rock crevices. Only a few species are common, while others have become endangered.
They are hunted for food in Cuba, where they are often cooked in a large pot with wild nuts and honey. One of the recipes is hutia stew: sauté with green peppers, onions, tomato sauce and lots of garlic.
One species of hutia is referred to by those stationed at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
as banana rats.
Banana rats are not named for their dietary preference, but because their feces look like small versions of the fruit. They are also known to come out at night.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s of the family Capromyidae that inhabit the Caribbean Islands. They range in size from 20 centimetre, and can weigh up to 7 kg (15.4 lb). Twenty species of hutia have been identified, and half may be extinct
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
. (Their larger relatives the giant hutia
Giant hutia
The giant hutias are an extinct group of large rodents known from fossil and subfossil material in the West Indies. One species, Amblyrhiza inundata, is estimated to have weighed between , big specimens being as large as an American Black Bear...
s, of the family Heptaxodontidae, are entirely extinct.) They resemble the nutria
Coypu
The coypu , , also known as the river rat, and nutria, is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae. Originally native to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by...
in some respects. Tails are present, varying from vestiges to prehensile. They have stout bodies and large heads. Most species are herbivorous, though some consume small animals. Instead of burrowing underground, they nest in trees or rock crevices. Only a few species are common, while others have become endangered.
They are hunted for food in Cuba, where they are often cooked in a large pot with wild nuts and honey. One of the recipes is hutia stew: sauté with green peppers, onions, tomato sauce and lots of garlic.
One species of hutia is referred to by those stationed at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
as banana rats.
Banana rats are not named for their dietary preference, but because their feces look like small versions of the fruit. They are also known to come out at night.
Species
- Those species with daggers by them are known to be extinct.
- Order RodentRodentRodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
ia- Suborder HystricognathiHystricognathiHystricognathi is an infraorder of rodents. Hystricognaths are distinguished from other rodents by the bone structure of their skulls. The masseter medialis passes partially through the infraorbital foramen and connects to the bone on the opposite side...
- Family Capromyidae
- Subfamily Capromyinae
- Capromys
- Desmarest's hutiaDesmarest's HutiaDesmarest's Hutia, Capromys pilorides, also known as the Cuban Hutia, is a species of hutia endemic to Cuba. Growing to 60 cm , it is the largest of the extant hutia species, and is abundant throughout its range....
(Capromys pilorides)
- Desmarest's hutia
- GeocapromysGeocapromysGeocapromys is a genus of rodent, comprising two extant species of hutia. The Bahamian Hutia or Ingraham's Hutia is native to the Bahamas, while the Jamaican Hutia , which is also known as the Jamaican Coney or Brown's Hutia, is endemic to Jamaica.The Little Swan Island Hutia Geocapromys is a...
- Bahamian HutiaBahamian HutiaThe Bahamian Hutia or Ingraham's Hutia is a species of rodent in the Capromyidae family.Geocapromys ingrahami is endemic to the Bahamas.-Habitat:...
(Geocapromys ingrahami) - Jamaican hutia (Geocapromys brownii)
- Little Swan Island HutiaLittle Swan Island hutiaThe Little Swan Island Hutia is an extinct species of rodent that lived on the Swan Islands, off north-eastern Honduras in the Caribbean...
(†Geocapromys thoracatus)
- Bahamian Hutia
- MesocapromysMesocapromysMesocapromys is a genus of rodent in the Capromyidae family. The genus is restricted to Cuba and associated islands.It contains the following species:* Cabrera's Hutia * Eared Hutia...
- Cabrera's HutiaCabrera's HutiaThe Cabrera's Hutia is a species of rodent in the Capromyidae family. It is endemic to Cuba.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical mangrove forests and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Mesocapromys angelcabrerai) - Dwarf HutiaDwarf HutiaThe dwarf hutia is known only from Cuba. It was last seen in 1937.The hutias are heavily-built guinea pig-like rodents with broad rounded heads. The have relatively small eyes and short rounded ears. The average tail and body length of this hutia is unknown. Some Hutias have prehensile tails,...
(Mesocapromys nanus) - Eared HutiaEared HutiaThe Eared Hutia or Large-eared Hutia is a species of rodent in the Capromyidae family. It is endemic to Cuba....
(Mesocapromys auritus) - San Felipe HutiaSan Felipe HutiaThe San Felipe Hutia , also known as the Little Earth Hutia, formerly found in Cuba, is listed on the 2008 IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct....
(Mesocapromys sanfelipensis)
- Cabrera's Hutia
- MysatelesMysatelesMysateles is a genus of rodent in the Capromyidae family.It contains the following species:* Chapman's Prehensile-tailed Hutia * Black-tailed Hutia...
- Black-tailed HutiaBlack-tailed HutiaThe Black-tailed Hutia or Bushy-tailed Hutia is a species of rodent in the Capromyidae family that is endemic to lowland moist forests on the island of Cuba. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
(Mysateles melanurus) - Garrido's HutiaGarrido's HutiaGarrido's hutia is a critically endangered species that is found in the Greater Antillean moist forests Global 200 ecoregion. Its previous range is thought to have included small islands in the Banco de los Jardins y Jardinillos of the Canarreos Archipelago south of the Zapata Peninsula and east...
(Mysateles garridoi) - Gundlach's Hutia (Mysateles gundlachi)
- Prehensile-tailed HutiaPrehensile-tailed HutiaThe Prehensile-tailed Hutia is a species of rodent in the Capromyidae family.It is an IUCN Red List Near threatened species — endemic to Cuba....
(Mysateles prehensilis) - Southern Hutia (Mysateles meridionalis)
- Black-tailed Hutia
- Capromys
- Subfamily †Hexolobodontinae
- †Hexolobodon
- Imposter HutiaImposter HutiaThe Imposter Hutia is an extinct species of rodent in the family Capromyidae. It is monotypic within the genus Hexolobodon and subfamily Hexolobodontinae. It was found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti....
(†Hexolobodon phenax)
- Imposter Hutia
- †Hexolobodon
- Subfamily Isolobodontinae
- †IsolobodonIsolobodonIsolobodon is an extinct genus of rodent in the family Capromyidae.It contains the following species:* Montane Hutia * Puerto Rican Hutia...
- Montane HutiaMontane HutiaThe Montane Hutia is an extinct species of rodent in the family Capromyidae. It was found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti....
(†Isolobodon montanus) - Puerto Rican HutiaPuerto Rican HutiaThe Puerto Rican Hutia is an extinct species of rodent in the Capromyidae family. It was found in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico....
(†Isolobodon portoricensis)
- Montane Hutia
- †Isolobodon
- Subfamily Plagiodontinae
- PlagiodontiaPlagiodontiaPlagiodontia is a genus of rodent in the Capromyidae family. The name Plagiodontia means "oblique tooth" in Greek.This genus contains the following four species :*† Samana Hutia Johnson, 1948...
- Hispaniolan HutiaHispaniolan HutiaThe Hispaniolan Hutia is one of several hutia species to have inhabited at some time the island of Hispaniola . The P...
(Plagiodontia aedium) - Samana HutiaSamana HutiaThe Samana Hutia is an extinct species of rodent in the family Capromyidae. It was found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Its natural habitat was subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is now extinct....
(†Plagiodontia ipnaeum) - San Rafael Hutia (Plagiodontia araeum)
- Hispaniolan Hutia
- †Rhizoplagiodontia
- Lemke's HutiaLemke's HutiaLemke's Hutia is an extinct species of rodent in the family Capromyidae. It is monotypic within the genus Rhizoplagiodontia. It was endemic to Haiti. Its natural habitat was subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(†Rhizoplagiodontia lemkei)
- Lemke's Hutia
- Plagiodontia
- Subfamily Capromyinae
- Family Capromyidae
- Suborder Hystricognathi