Capromyidae - West Indian hutias

There are around 13 living species and 6 extinct species in this family. They are found in the islands of the Caribbean, especially Cuba. Hutias look like nutrias. They have stout bodies, large heads, round ears, and short legs. Some species have long tails, others have short or no tails. Some species live in trees and others live on the ground. Most species are herbivores and eat fruit and leaves, but some species also eat invertebrates, and reptiles.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
None		Puerto Rican Hutia - Isolobodon portoricensis Cabrera's Hutia - Mesocapromys angelcabrerai Large-eared Hutia - Mesocapromys auritus Dwarf Hutia - Mesocapromys nanus Little Earth Hutia - Mesocapromys sanfelipensis Garrido's Hutia - Mysateles garridoi Chapman's Prehensile-tailed Hutia - Mysateles gundlachi Bushy-tailed Hutia - Mysateles melanurus Isla De La Juventud Tree Hutia - Mysateles meridionalis Prehensile-tailed Hutia - Mysateles prehensilis Hispaniolan Hutia - Plagiodontia aedium Samana Hutia - Plagiodontia ipnaeum
North/Central American Species
Desmarest's Hutia - Capromys pilorides Jamaican Hutia - Geocapromys brownii Cuban Coney - Geocapromys columbianus Ingraham's Hutia - Geocapromys ingrahami Little Swan Island Hutia - Geocapromys thoracatus Imposter Hutia - Hexolobodon phenax Montane Hutia - Isolobodon montanus

Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North/Central America South America NH Species
Desmarest's Hutia - Capromys pilorides Jamaican Hutia - Geocapromys brownii Cuban Coney - Geocapromys columbianus Ingraham's Hutia - Geocapromys ingrahami Little Swan Island Hutia - Geocapromys thoracatus Imposter Hutia - Hexolobodon phenax Montane Hutia - Isolobodon montanus Puerto Rican Hutia - Isolobodon portoricensis Cabrera's Hutia - Mesocapromys angelcabrerai Large-eared Hutia - Mesocapromys auritus		Dwarf Hutia - Mesocapromys nanus Little Earth Hutia - Mesocapromys sanfelipensis Garrido's Hutia - Mysateles garridoi Chapman's Prehensile-tailed Hutia - Mysateles gundlachi Bushy-tailed Hutia - Mysateles melanurus Isla De La Juventud Tree Hutia - Mysateles meridionalis Prehensile-tailed Hutia - Mysateles prehensilis Hispaniolan Hutia - Plagiodontia aedium Samana Hutia - Plagiodontia ipnaeum

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Desmarest's Hutia - Capromys pilorides
Desmarest's hutia is found in Cuba.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School

Desmarest's Hutia - Capromys pilorides
Desmarest’s hutia is the largest of the hutia species.
Source: World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School

Dwarf Hutia - Mesocapromys nanus
The dwarf hutia was last seen in 1937, but droppings and tracks have been found since then. It is found in the Matanzas Province in Cuba.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Little Earth Hutia - Mesocapromys sanfelipensis
The little Earth hutia was last seen in 1978. It is found on the Archipiélago de los Canorreos in the Pinar del Rio Province in Cuba.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hispaniolan Hutia - Plagiodontia aedium
The Hispaniolan hutia is also known as Cuvier's hutia. It is found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ingraham's Hutia - Geocapromys ingrahami
Ingraham's hutia is also known as the Bahamian hutia. It is found ion the islands of the Bahamas.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School

Jamaican Hutia - Geocapromys brownii
The Jamaican hutia is only found in Jamaica.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Jamaican Hutia - Geocapromys brownii
The Jamaican hutia is also known as Brown's hutia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School

Prehensile-tailed Hutia - Mysateles prehensilis
The prehensile-tailed hutia is found in Cuba.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School

Puerto Rican Hutia - Isolobodon portoricensis
The Puerto Rican hutia was once found in Haiti and Dominican Republic and offshore islands. It was introduced to Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Mona Islands. It has probably been extinct since 1525.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School