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: Rodentiaa
Subordo: Hystricomorpha
Infraordo: Hystricognathi
Parvordo: Caviomorpha
Superfamilia: Octodontoidea
Familia: Capromyidae
Subfamilia: Capromyinae
Genus: Mesocapromys
Species: Mesocapromys nanus
Name
Mesocapromys nanus (G.M. Allen, 1917)
Holotype: MCZ 9864, right lower mandible, collected by Thomas Barbour.
Type locality: “cave deposit in the Sierra de Hato Nuevo, Province of Matanzas, Cuba”.
Combinations
Capromys nana Allen, 1917: 54 [original combination]
Capromys (Pygmaeocapromys) nana: Varona, 1979: 5 [subsequent combination]
Mesocapromys (Paracapromys) nanus: Kratochvil, Rodríguez & Baruš, 1978: 15 [subsequent combination]
Native distribution areas
Cuba (Matanzas Province)
References
Primary references
Allen, G.M. 1917. An extinct Cuban Capromys. Proceedings of the New England Zoölogical Club 6: 53–56. BHL
Links
Mesocapromys nanus 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.
Young, R., Kennerley, R., Turvey, S.T. & Borotto-Páez, R. 2018. IUCN: Mesocapromys nanus (Critically Endangered). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T13217A22186363. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T13217A22186363.en
Vernacular names
English: Dwarf Hutia
español: Jutía enana
The dwarf hutia (Mesocapromys nana) is a small, critically endangered, rat-like mammal known only from Cuba.[2] Aside from tracks, it was last seen in 1937 and may be extinct.[1] It gives birth to only a single offspring at a time, and is threatened by habitat loss and non-native species such as rats and mongoose. The dwarf hutia belongs to the hutia subfamily (Capromyinae), a group of rodents native to the Caribbean that are mostly endangered or extinct.
Description
The hutias are heavily built guinea pig-like rodents with broad rounded heads. They have relatively small eyes and short rounded ears. The average tail and body length of this hutia is unknown. Some hutias have prehensile tails, meaning they are able to use them for gripping and climbing.[3] Unlike the larger litter sizes of many other rodents, the dwarf hutia gave birth to only a single offspring.
Conservation
The dwarf hutia became Critically Endangered due to loss of habitat and the introduction of mongooses and black rats.[4] The discovery of tracks and droppings in the Zapata Swamp gives hopes that this species has survived. It was initially described based on fossil material, but was later found to be extant.[2] This species is on Re:wild's Search For Lost Species Initiative.
References
Young, R.; Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S.T.; Borotto-Páez, R. (2020) [amended version of 2018 assessment]. "Mesocapromys nanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T13217A166518354. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T13217A166518354.en. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 1538–1600. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Glenn, C. R. (2006). "Earth's Endangered Creatures" (Online). Accessed 6/23/2010 at http://earthsendangered.com.
"Dwarf Hutia". EDGE of Existence.
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