Desmarest’s Hutia (Giant Rodents of Cuba)

Mon, 12 May 2025 23:19:41 +0000

Desmarest's Hutia (Capromys Pilorides) also known as the Cuban Hutia or banana rat is the largest compared to all Hutia species. Desmarest's hutia is found in a wide range of habitats. The Cuban Hutias' habitats are usually montane cloud forests, mangrove forests, mountains, and arid coastal semi-deserts in Cuba. In northern Cuba, populations tend to be centered on areas where there are abundant mangroves, while southern populations tend to favor a more terrestrial habitat.

Desmarest's hutia has a head-and-body length of 31–60 cm, a tail that is 14–29 cm long, and weighs 2.8–8.5 kg. It has thick, coarse fur which extends to the tip of the tail. The color of the body fur varies from black to brown, with a light sand color and red also seen. The stomach is divided into three compartments by constrictions in the gut and is among the most complex of any rodent.

Desmarest's Hutias are quite cute and do not look like typical rodents because of their stocky body, heavyweight, and noticeable size. They look more like squirrels or guinea pigs than rats. It moves with a slow, waddling gait, but can perform a quick hop when pursued. They can run very fast, especially when they are startled or if they are aware that they are being hunted by crocodiles or big predatory birds. The feet have five toes with large claws which assist the animal in climbing. They are also agile enough to climb branches so they can hide from animals that are hunting them, or have a better view of their prey which are typically reptiles.

Cuban hutias are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and flesh, but eat mostly plants. Their diet includes leaves, fruit, bark, lizards, and small animals.

Although social, Desmarest's Hutia is quite solitary with their living situation. At most, they love in pairs or small groups, usually with relatives or mates. They are not aggressive at all, neither within their species nor the other animals in their habitat. They are diurnal and do not burrow, so during the night, they rest in hollows in rocks or trees.

These Cuban Hutia communicates with each other by scent marking. It is the most common form of communication among their species. They do this by urinating where the others members of their species reside. Aside from scent marking, they are fond of "grooming" or tumbling around each other in a non-aggressive manner. They are naturally shy and thrive more in pairs than in a big group.

Desmarest's Hutia has a gestation period that ranges from 120-126 days, and their breeding season is all year round. Most Cuban Hutias nest in rock crevices and their average litter size is 2-3. The average age of sexual maturity for both male and female Cuban Hutias is 304 days or approximately 10 months.

A Desmarest's Hutia typically lives at an average range of 8-11 years. The longevity of its life would depend on whether it will be hunted by its predators or not. Otherwise, there isn't much danger to their well-being as food is readily available in their habitat.

Hutias were traditionally hunted for food in Cuba as their flesh was agreeable and their size meant they provided a substantial meal. The Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968 made it illegal to hunt or kill hutias without a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.