List of capromyids

Desmarest's hutia (Capromys pilorides)

Capromyidae is a family of mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the Caviomorpha parvorder. Members of this family are called capromyids or hutias. They are found in the Caribbean on Cuba, Hispaniola, and nearby islands. They live primarily in forests, wetlands, and rocky areas, though some species can be found in shrublands, caves, and coastal areas. They range in size from the dwarf hutia, at 20 cm (8 in) plus a 17 cm (7 in) tail, to Desmarest's hutia, at 62 cm (24 in) plus a 31 cm (12 in) tail. Most extant capromyids do not have population estimates, but two species—the Jamaican coney and eared hutia—are categorized as an endangered species, and four—the Bahamian hutia, Cabrera's hutia, dwarf hutia, and San Felipe hutia—are categorized as critically endangered with adult populations of 100 or less, while eight species, including the subfamilies Hexolobodontinae and Isolobodontinae, were made extinct since 1500 due to the European colonization of the Americas and introduction of non-native rats, with some species surviving until the 1900s. ^{[1] [2]}

The 10 extant species of Capromyidae are divided into two subfamilies: Capromyinae, containing nine species in four genera, and Plagiodontinae, with a single species. In addition to the two extinct subfamilies, Capromyinae contains two species and Plagiodontinae three species made extinct since 1500. Capromyidae has been proposed to be merged into the family Echimyidae as the subfamily Capromyinae, with its subfamilies converted to lesser clades, but the proposal is not yet universally accepted. ^[3] A few extinct prehistoric capromyid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed. ^[4]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories

Conservation status
EX	Extinct (8 species)
EW	Extinct in the wild (0 species)
CR	Critically endangered (2 species)
EN	Endangered (4 species)
VU	Vulnerable (1 species)
NT	Near threatened (1 species)
LC	Least concern (2 species)
Other categories
DD	Data deficient (0 species)
NE	Not evaluated (0 species)

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the capromyid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species, subspecies, or genera listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol: "†".

Classification

Capromyidae is a family consisting of 10 extant species in 5 genera. These species are divided into two subfamilies: Capromyinae, containing nine species in four genera, and Plagiodontinae, with a single species. Additionally, the subfamilies Hexolobodontinae, containing a single species, and Isolobodontinae, containing 2 species in a single genus, were made extinct since 1500, as well as two species in Capromyinae and three species in Plagiodontinae.

• Family Capromyidae
  • Subfamily Capromyinae
    • Genus Capromys (Desmarest's hutia): one species
    • Genus Geocapromys (Bahaman and Jamaican hutias): four species (two extinct)
    • Genus Mesocapromys (Small Cuban hutias): five species
    • Genus Mysateles (prehensile-tailed hutia): one species
  • Subfamily Hexolobodontinae  †
    • Genus Hexolobodon  † (imposter hutia): one species (one extinct)
  • Subfamily Isolobodontinae  †
    • Genus Isolobodon  † (laminar-toothed hutias): two species (two extinct)
  • Subfamily Plagiodontinae
    • Genus Hyperplagiodontia  † (wide-toothed hutia): one species (one extinct)
    • Genus Plagiodontia (Hispaniolan hutias): two species (one extinct)
    • Genus Rhizoplagiodontia  † (Lemke's hutia): one species (one extinct)

Capromyidae [5] Plagiodontinae    Plagiodontia Capromyinae    Geocapromys Capromys Mesocapromys Mysateles

Capromyids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists. ^[6]

Subfamily Capromyinae

Main article: Capromyinae

Genus Capromys – Desmarest, 1822 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Desmarest's hutia	C. pilorides Say, 1822 Three subspecies C. p. doceleguas C. p. pilorides C. p. relictus	Cuba	Size: 30–62 cm (12–24 in) long, plus 13–31 cm (5–12 in) tail [7] Habitat: Forest and caves [8] Diet: Leaves, fruit, bark, lizards, and other small animals [9]	LC  Unknown [8]

Genus Geocapromys – Chapman, 1901 – four species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Bahamian hutia	G. ingrahami (J. A. Allen, 1891)	Cuba	Size: 28–32 cm (11–13 in) long, plus about 6 cm (2 in) tail [7] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, rocky areas, and intertidal marine [10] Diet: Bark, twigs, and leaves [11]	CR  Unknown [10]
Cuban coney  †	G. columbianus (Chapman, 1892)	Cuba	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Unknown [12] Diet: Bark, twigs, and leaves [11]	EX  0 [12]
Jamaican coney	G. brownii (J. B. Fischer, 1829)	Jamaica	Size: 37–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail [7] Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [13] Diet: Bark, twigs, and leaves [11]	EN  Unknown [13]
Little Swan Island hutia  †	G. thoracatus (True, 1888)	Little Swan Island, Honduras	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Shrubland [14] Diet: Bark, twigs, and leaves [11]	EX  0 [14]

Genus Mesocapromys – Varona, 1970 – five species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Black-tailed hutia	M. melanurus (Poey, 1865)	Southeastern Cuba	Size: 31–38 cm (12–15 in) long, plus 21–32 cm (8–13 in) tail [15] Habitat: Forest [16] Diet: Vegetation and small animals [2]	VU  Unknown [16]
Cabrera's hutia	M. angelcabrerai (Varona, 1979)	Western Cuba	Size: About 25 cm (10 in) long, plus about 18 cm (7 in) tail [15] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [17] Diet: Vegetation and small animals [2]	CR  Unknown [17]
Dwarf hutia	M. nanus (Allen, 1917)	Western Cuba	Size: About 20 cm (8 in) long, plus about 17 cm (7 in) tail [15] Habitat: Inland wetlands [18] Diet: Vegetation and small animals [2]	CR  0–50 [18]
Eared hutia	M. auritus (Varona, 1970)	Island of Cayo Fragoso, north of Cuba	Size: About 29 cm (11 in) long, plus about 20 cm (8 in) tail [15] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [19] Diet: Vegetation and small animals [2]	EN  600–1,300 [19]
San Felipe hutia	M. sanfelipensis (Varona & Garrido, 1970)	Island of Cayo de Juan Garcia, southwest of Cuba	Size: Unknown [15] Habitat: Inland wetlands [20] Diet: Vegetation and small animals [2]	CR  0–100 [20]

Genus Mysateles – Lesson, 1842 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Prehensile-tailed hutia	M. prehensilis (Poeppig, 1824) Two subspecies M. p. gundlachi M. p. prehensilis	Western Cuba	Size: 33–45 cm (13–18 in) long, plus 25–35 cm (10–14 in) tail [15] Habitat: Forest [21] Diet: Leaves [21]	NT  Unknown [21]

Subfamily Hexolobodontinae

Main article: Hexolobodontinae

Genus Hexolobodon  † – Miller, 1929 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Imposter hutia  †	H. phenax Miller, 1929	Hispaniola	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Unknown [22] Diet: Unknown [23]	EX  0 [22]

Subfamily Isolobodontinae

Main article: Isolobodontinae

Genus Isolobodon  † – J. A. Allen, 1916 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Montane hutia  †	I. montanus (Miller, 1922)	Hispaniola	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Forest [24] Diet: Unknown [25]	EX  0 [24]
Puerto Rican hutia  †	I. portoricensis J. A. Allen, 1916	Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and nearby islands	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Unknown [26] Diet: Unknown [25]	EX  0 [26]

Subfamily Plagiodontinae

Genus Hyperplagiodontia  † – Rímoli, 1977 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Wide-toothed hutia  †	H. araeum Ray, 1964	Hispaniola	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Unknown Diet: Bark, leaves, and tree buds [27]	EX  0

Genus Plagiodontia – F. Cuvier, 1836 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Hispaniolan hutia	P. aedium (F. Cuvier, 1836) Two subspecies P. a. aedium P. a. hylaeum	Hispaniola	Size: 31–40 cm (12–16 in) long, plus 12–16 cm (5–6 in) tail [7] Habitat: Forest and rocky areas [28] Diet: Bark, leaves, and tree buds [27]	LC  Unknown [28]
Samaná hutia  †	P. ipnaeum Johnson, 1948	Hispaniola	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Unknown [29] Diet: Bark, leaves, and tree buds [27]	EX  0 [29]

Genus Rhizoplagiodontia  † – Woods, 1989 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Lemke's hutia  †	R. lemkei Woods, 1989	Hispaniola	Size: Unknown [1] Habitat: Unknown Diet: Unknown [23]	EX  0

References

1. Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, pp. 704–706
2. Nowak, p. 1703
3. Fabre, P.-H.; Upham, N. S.; Emmons, L. H.; Justy, F.; Leite, Y. L. R.; Loss, A. C.; Orlando, L.; Tilak, M.-K.; Patterson, B. D.; D., E. J. P. (2017). "Mitogenomic Phylogeny, Diversification, and Biogeography of South American Spiny Rats". Molecular Biology and Evolution . 34 (3): 613–633. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msw261 . PMID   28025278.
4. "Fossilworks: Capromyidae". Paleobiology Database . University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
5. Upham; Patterson, ch. 2. Evolution of the Caviomorph Rodents: A Complete Phylogeny and Timetree of Living Genera
6. Wilson, Reeder, pp. 1593-1598
7. Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 366
8. Turvey, S. T.; Kennerley, R. (2024). "Capromys pilorides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T3842A22187031. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T3842A22187031.en .
9. Nowak, p. 1706
10. Cartwright, F. B.; Davis, A.; Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S. T. (2024). "Geocapromys ingrahami". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T9002A224590046. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T9002A224590046.en .
11. Nowak, p. 1707
12. Turvey, S. T.; Helgen, K. (2018). "Geocapromys columbianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T9004A22186798. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T9004A22186798.en .
13. Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S. T.; Young, R. (2018). "Geocapromys brownii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T9001A22186569. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T9001A22186569.en .
14. Turvey, S. T.; Helgen, K. (2018). "Geocapromys thoracatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T9003A22186735. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T9003A22186735.en .
15. Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 367
16. Kennerley, R.; Young, R.; Turvey, S. T.; Borotto-Páez, R. (2018). "Mysateles melanurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T14256A22187606. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T14256A22187606.en .
17. Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S. T.; Young, R.; Borotto-Páez, R. (2020). "Mesocapromys angelcabrerai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T13215A22186284. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T13215A22186284.en .
18. 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 .
19. Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S. T.; Young, R. (2019). "Mesocapromys auritus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T13216A22186197. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T13216A22186197.en .
20. Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S. T.; Young, R.; Borotto-Páez, R. (2019). "Mesocapromys sanfelipensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T13218A22186444. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T13218A22186444.en .
21. Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S. T.; Borotto-Páez, R. (2024). "Mysateles prehensilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T80211500A22187218. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T80211500A22187218.en .
22. Turvey, S. T.; Helgen, K. (2018). "Hexolobodon phenax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T10034A22187167. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T10034A22187167.en .
23. Nowak, p. 1708
24. Turvey, S. T.; Helgen, K. (2018). "Isolobodon montanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T10859A22186956. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T10859A22186956.en .
25. Nowak, p. 1710
26. Turvey, S. T.; Dávalos, L. (2018). "Isolobodon portoricensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T10860A22186876. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T10860A22186876.en .
27. Nowak, p. 1709
28. Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S. T. (2024). "Plagiodontia aedium". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T17460A22187711. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T17460A22187711.en .
29. Turvey, S. T.; Helgen, K. (2018). "Plagiodontia ipnaeum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T17462A22187847. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T17462A22187847.en .

Sources

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