Geocapromys ingrahami

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentia
Subordo: Hystricomorpha
Infraordo: Hystricognathi
Parvordo: Caviomorpha
Superfamilia: Octodontoidea

Familia: Capromyidae
Subfamilia: Capromyinae
Genus: Geocapromys
Species: Geocapromys ingrahami
Subspecies: †G. i. abaconis - G. i. ingrahami - †G. i. irrectus
Name

Geocapromys ingrahami (J.A. Allen, 1891)
References

Geocapromys ingrahami in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.

Vernacular names
magyar: Bahama-szigeteki hutia

The Bahamian hutia or Ingraham's hutia (Geocapromys ingrahami) is a small, furry, rat-like mammal found only in the Bahamas. About the size of a rabbit, it lives in burrows in forests or shrubland, emerging at night to feed on leaves, fruit, and other plant matter. It was believed extinct until rediscovery in 1964, and it remains the focus of conservation efforts. The Bahamian hutia is a member of the hutia subfamily (Capromyinae), a group of rodents native to the Caribbean, many of which are endangered or extinct.
Description

The Bahamian hutia is a rat-like rodent with a short tail and a body-length of up to 60 centimetres (24 in). Its fur varies in colour and can be black, brown, grey, white or reddish.[2]
Distribution and habitat

The Bahamian hutia is endemic to the Bahamas.[2] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and rocky areas. It was believed to be extinct until 1966, when biologist Garrett Clough found a relict population on East Plana Cay, a small, uninhabited strip of land east of Long Island, Bahama, between Acklins Island and Mayaguana Island.[3] The Plana Cays are the last natural habitat of the Bahamian hutia and are currently home to most of the remaining population.[2] Colonist hutias were introduced into isolated parts of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in 1973 as a conservation measure.[3][4] The IUCN puts it as possibly extant in the Turks and Caicos islands.[4]
Behaviour

The Bahamian hutia is a nocturnal species, remaining underground during the day. It can climb trees but mostly forages on or close to the ground, feeding on leaves, shoots, fruit, nuts and bark and occasionally insects or small lizards.[2] It has been known to feed on seaweed.[1]

Adults form lasting pair bonds and breeding can occur at any time of year. Up to four young are born after a gestation period of about four months. They are able to eat solid food after a few days and may stay as a family group for up to two years, by which time they are sexually mature.[2]

Different species of hutia vary greatly in temperament, but biologist Garrett Clough described the Bahamian hutia as "a most peaceable rodent".[3]
Status

Two subspecies became extinct in modern times. The Crooked Island hutia (G. i. irrectus) and the Great Abaco hutia (G. i. abaconis) were mentioned by early European voyagers, and are thought to have become extinct by 1600. This is thought to be due to land clearance rather than direct hunting.

As this rodent is known from only six locations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "vulnerable". Its population, though small, is believed to be steady, but it could be threatened by adverse conditions such as a hurricane, or by the arrival on the islands of predators such as feral cats.[1][3]
See also

Hutia
Bahamian dry forests

References

Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S.T.; Young, R. (2020). "Geocapromys ingrahami". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T9002A22186664. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T9002A22186664.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
Gramlich, Courtney (2001). "Geocapromys ingrahami: Bahamian hutia". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
"Hungry for hutia? Our taste for Bahamas' "most peaceable rodent" shaped its diversity". eurekalert.org (Press release). Gainesville, FL: Florida Museum of Natural History. 28 January 2020.

IUCN Directory of Neotropical Protected Areas. IUCN. 1982. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-907567-62-2.

Day, D. (1981). The Encyclopedia of Vanished Species. London: Universal Books. p. 236. ISBN 0-947889-30-2.