Mysateles meridionalis Varona 1986

Mysateles meridionalis Varona 1986, Poeyana, 315: 4.

Type Locality: Cuba, north of Caleta Cocodrilos, SW Isla de la Juventud (former Isle of Pines).

Vernacular Names: Southern Hutia.

Distribution: Restricted to lowland forests SW of the central savanna on the Isle of Youth (south of W Cuba).

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (nt), however, Borroto and Ramos (2003) recommend status of critically endangered.

Discussion: Closely related to Mysateles prehensilis, but differs in the proportion of the tail, which is 62 percent of body length in meridionalis, 73 percent in gundlachi, and 79 percent in prehensilis; see also comments under prehensilis .