Cabrera's Hutia
Mesocapromys angelcabrerai
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrera's_hutia
Overview
Cabrera's hutia is a small, critically endangered, rat-like mammal found only in Cuba. It lives in communal shelters in swamps and coastal mangrove forests, and is threatened by habitat loss. It is a member of the hutia subfamily (Capromyinae), a group of rodents native to the Caribbean that are mostly endangered or extinct.
Mesocapromys angelcabrerai faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in Cuba. The species is particularly vulnerable to introduced predators including cats and dogs, which prey on these ground-dwelling rodents. Hurricane damage and climate change-related sea level rise pose additional risks to coastal populations, while the species' extremely restricted distribution makes it highly susceptible to local extinctions from any single catastrophic event.
Habitat
This Cuban hutia inhabits dense coastal scrublands, mangrove edges, and rocky crevices along the coastline of its restricted range. The species prefers areas with thick vegetation cover that provides protection from predators and access to its preferred plant foods.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in CAPROMYIDAE
Threatened in Cuba
Frequently asked questions
Why is Cabrera's Hutia classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Cabrera's Hutia live?
What are the main threats to Cabrera's Hutia?
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