''Mesocapromys'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

in the subfamily

Capromyinae Hutias (known in Spanish as jutía) are moderately large cavy-like rodents of the subfamily Capromyinae that inhabit the Caribbean islands. Most species are restricted to Cuba, but species are known from all of the Greater Antilles, as well as Th ...

. The genus is restricted to

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

and associated islands.

Systematics

''Mesocapromys'' contains the five following species: * Cabrera's hutia ('' Mesocapromys angelcabrerai'') * Eared hutia ('' Mesocapromys auritus'') * Black-tailed hutia ('' Mesocapromys melanurus'') * Dwarf hutia ('' Mesocapromys nana'') * San Felipe hutia (''

Mesocapromys sanfelipensis The San Felipe hutia (''Mesocapromys sanfelipensis''), also known as the little earth hutia, is small, critically endangered, rat-like mammal found on the small island of Cayo de Juan Garcia off the southwest coast of Cuba. It was discovered in 1 ...

'')

Phylogeny

Within Capromyidae, the closest relative of ''Mesocapromys'' is the genus ''Mysateles''. Both genera are the sister group to ''Capromys'', and then ''Geocapromys'' is a more distant genus. In turn, these four genera belong to the tribe Capromyini, and are the sister group to ''Plagiodontia''.

References

Hutias Rodent genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{rodent-stub