Animal Info - Large-eared Hutia

Animal Info - Eared Hutia

(Other Name: Hutia Rat, Large-eared Hutia)

Mesocapromys auritus (Capromys a.)

Status: Critically Endangered

1. Profile (Picture)
2. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where Currently Found, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons for Decline)
3. Data on Biology and Ecology (Habitat, Behavior, Social Organization)
4. References

Profile

Pictures: Related Species: Bahamas Hutia (7 Kb JPEG) and Jamaican Hutia (8 Kb JPEG)

The eared hutia occurs in mangrove forests. The communal nests it reportedly builds in mangrove trees are circular, measuring about 1 m (3.3') in diameter, and are built out of mangrove branches and leaves.

First described in 1970, the eared hutia is known only from Cayo Fragoso, a small, low island off of north-central Cuba. Previously the eared hutia was hunted by fishermen.

Status and Trends

IUCN Status:

1982 - 1994: Endangered
1996 - 2004: Critically Endangered (Criteria: B1+2ce) (IUCN 2004)

Countries Where the Eared Hutia Is Currently Found:

2004: Occurs in Cuba (IUCN 2004).

History of Distribution:

First described in 1970, the eared hutia is known only from Cayo Fragoso, a small, low island off of north-central Cuba.

Distribution Map (12 Kb) (InfoNatura)

Threats and Reasons for Decline:

Previously the eared hutia was hunted by fishermen.

Data on Biology and Ecology

Habitat:

The eared hutia occurs in mangrove forests.

The eared hutia is one of the species that live in both the Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot (Cons. Intl. 2005) and the Greater Antillean Moist Forests Global 200 Ecoregion. (Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999)

Behavior:

The nests the eared hutia reportedly builds in mangrove trees are circular, measuring about 1 m (3.3') in diameter, and are built out of mangrove branches and leaves.

Social Organization:

The eared hutia has been reported to build communal nests.

References

Alvarez & Gonzalez 1991, Burton & Pearson 1987, Cons. Intl. 2005, InfoNatura, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Lidicker 1989, Nowak 1999, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999, Oryx 1972e

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Last modified: August 1, 2006;