CR

Little Earth Hutia

Mesocapromys sanfelipensis

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Mesocapromys sanfelipensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development on its limited island range. Introduced predators, particularly cats and dogs, pose significant predation pressure on this ground-dwelling rodent. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and environmental changes.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Cuban hutia inhabits dry forests, scrublands, and rocky areas with dense vegetation cover on small cays. The species requires areas with sufficient ground cover and crevices for shelter, typically in coastal and near-coastal environments.

Forest - Subtropical/tropical mangrove vegetation· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in CAPROMYIDAE

Bahamian HutiaCR

Bahamian Hutia

Geocapromys ingrahami

Declining
CR

Dwarf Hutia

Mesocapromys nanus

Unknown
VU

Black-tailed Hutia

Mysateles melanurus

Declining
Jamaican HutiaEN

Jamaican Hutia

Geocapromys brownii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Little Earth Hutia classified as Critically Endangered?
Little Earth Hutia is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Mesocapromys sanfelipensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development on its limited island range. Introduced predators, particularly cats and dogs, pose significant predation pressure on this ground-dwelling rodent. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and environmental changes.
Where does Little Earth Hutia live?
Little Earth Hutia occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Little Earth Hutia?
The main threats to Little Earth Hutia are 5.1, 5.3, 6.2, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.