Mammals · Rodentia · Capromyidae

Desmarest's Hutia

Capromys pilorides

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Desmarest's hutia is the largest rodent in Cuba and the most abundant native land mammal on the island. It is a robust caviomorph with a brown coat and a short tail, which climbs with ease and spends much of its time in trees and mangroves. It feeds on leaves, fruit, bark and occasionally small animals. Unlike most Caribbean hutias, which died out after colonisation, this one has held up well and is common on cays and in protected areas.

Weight

3 kg – 8.5 kg

Size

30 cm – 50 cm

Lifespan

11 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

It is the survivor of a group that was once diverse in the Caribbean: of the dozens of hutia species that populated the Antilles, most disappeared after the arrival of people and the animals they brought with them, and this is one of the few that remains abundant.
On Cuba's uninhabited cays it reaches very high densities and is seen climbing through the mangroves in broad daylight, which is uncommon in a large rodent.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Mangroves, coastal woodland, karst scrub and cays of Cuba
Sexual maturity: 10 months
Gestation / incubation: 4.1 months
Litter / clutch size: 2

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capromys_pilorides