Mesocapromys nanus (G. M. Allen 1917)

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Capromyidae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 1593-1599 : 1596

Mesocapromys nanus (G. M. Allen 1917)

[Mesocapromys] nanus (G. M. Allen 1917) , Proc. New England Zool. Club, 6: 54.

Type Locality: Cuba, Matanzas Prov., Sierra de Hato Nuevo.

Vernacular Names: Dwarf Hutia.

Distribution: Cienaga (swamp) de Zapata (Matanzas Prov., Cuba).

Conservation: U.S. ESA – Endangered as Capromys nana ; ICUN – Critically Endangered. Some mammalogists consider this species to be extinct since no specimens have been collected since 1937, but it is still likely to survive in remote areas of the Zapata Swamp (Jorge de la Cruz, pers. comm.).

Discussion: Placed in newly created subgenus Pygmaeocapromys by Varona (1979:5). In genus Mesocapromys , subgenus Paracapromys by Kratocvil et al. (1978:15) and Rodriguez et al. (1979). However, retained in Capromys subgenus Mysateles by Hall (1981:863) because of its long tail and small body size. Varona (1979:5), however, states that even though this species "automatically" is associated with Mysatele s because of tail length, there are important cranial differences between nanus and other Mysateles . Originally based on fossil material, but subsequently found living in the Zapata Swamp.