By Courtney Gramlich
Geographic Range
Geocapromys ingrahami is found on the islands of the Bahamas. Subspecies are found on other islands of the Caribbean, and northern Venezuela.
(Encyclopedia Britannica,1999)
Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical 
(native ); oceanic islands (native ).
Other Geographic Terms:
island endemic .
Habitat
Geocapromys ingrahami is found in the forests of the Bahamas. It is found in the trees or on the ground. This species of Hutia is found mainly on the East Plana Cay of the Bahamas.
(Attrill, 2000; Packard, 1983)
Terrestrial Biomes:
rainforest .
Physical Description
(11 lbs)
Geocapromys ingrahami is a rat-like rodent. Its fur comes in many different colors. It can be gray, brown, black, white, or red. Its length ranges from 20 - 60 cm, not including the tail. The tail is short.
(Attrill, 2000; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
The females breed all year round. The gestation period is 17 - 18 weeks. The female may have one to four young. The young are born full of fur and with their eyes open. They are able to eat solid foods, like leaves, a few days after they are born. The young tend to stay with their mothers for up to two years. Geocapromys ingrahami lives up to 12 years and the reproduction rate is low. Sexual maturity is two years old.
(Attrill, 2000; Packard, 1983)
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Hutia live in pairs all their lives. They are very social with each other. They are not aggressive animals but they "wrestle" with each other. This "wrestling" is thought to be playful. There is no sexual or aggressive intention. The Hutia also mark their scent by urinating. Unlike dogs, Hutia do not use this technique to mark their territory. It is thought that it is used to ensure the cohesion of the population. The Bahamas Hutia is nocturnal and terrestrial.
(Attrill, 2000; Packard, 1983)
Food Habits
The Bahamas Hutia is mostly a vegetarian. It eats bark, leaves, nuts, fruits, and the occasional insect or lizard. Geocapromys ingrahami is a good climber but tends to eat the vegetation closer to the ground.
(Attrill, 2000; Packard, 1983; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999)
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There is no negative affect on humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The Bahamas Hutia can be easily bred and studied in zoos. Scientists also study this animal because it is endangered.
(Attrill, 2000)
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Vulnerable.
US Federal List: [link]:
Threatened .
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
Geocapromys ingarahami is an endangered species. It was once believed that it was extinct. The causes of their endangerment include hunting, habitat destruction, predation by introduced cats, dogs, and mongoose. Scientists have relocated some Hutia to other small islands of the Bahamas.
The animal is protected under the Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968. This prohibits killing and capturing of Hutia. The Bahamas Hutia has the most abundant population of all the Hutia species. One species is extinct, and all are endangered or threatened. A program is reintroducing the Bahamas Hutia to the island of Exuma.
(Attrill, 2000; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999)
Other Comments
The Bahamas Hutia is known as a "living fossil" because it was once thought to be extinct. It was found in the early 1960's on a remote island of the Bahamas. Several programs are in progess to keep this species from extinction.
(Attrill, 2000)
For More Information
Find Geocapromys ingrahami information at
Contributors
Courtney Gramlich (author), Milford High School.
George Campbell (editor), Milford High School.
