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Jamaican coney

The Jamaican coney (Geocapromys

brownii), also known as the Jamaican
hutia and the Browns hutia, is a terrestrial
land mammal found in the rocky, forested
areas of Jamaica, and is endemic to the
Island. It is in the order Rodentia and the
family Capromyidae.
 Jamaican coney

Conservation status

Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia

Family: Capromyidae

Tribe: Capromyini

Genus: Geocapromys

Species: G. brownii

Binomial name

Geocapromys brownii
J. Fischer, 1829

It is related to the hutias and more

distantly to guinea pigs. It is the only
extant native land mammal on Jamaica
besides bats.

Description
The Jamaican coney is generally about the
size of a cottontail rabbit, and mature
adults usually weigh between 1 and 2 kg.[2]
It is reddish brown in color/yellowish
brown and ranges in size from about 330
to 445 mm in length. It has the smallest
tail of all the species in the genus
(approximately 45mm). It has a large head
(the largest in the genus), short legs, short
tail, and short ears and neck, which gives it
a somewhat squat appearance. It has
large, robust incisors and hypsodont
cheekteeth.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Geocapromys brownii only occurs in
Jamaica, mainly in the more remote
locations and mountainous regions. They
have been found from as far east as the
John Crow and Blue Mountains of
Portland and the St. Thomas Parishes in
the east of the island, to as far west as the
Harris Savannah and the Brazilletto
Mountains.[2]

Ecology and behaviour

Jamaican hutias are almost exclusively
nocturnal mammals. As night foragers,
they feed on a large variety of food
sources, including fruits, exposed roots,
bark, and the foliage from many different
plant species.[2] They have only been seen
rarely in their wild state, and this has often
led to the belief that they are extremely
rare. This is not true however, as evidence
of their nightly activities is very abundant.
[citation needed].Notwithstanding the
previous assertion, the Jamaican Hutia’s
wild population decrease has led to it
being included on the IUCN red-list of
endangered species.
(http://oldredlist.iucnredlist.org/details/9
001/0 )
Observations of captive specimens note
that Jamaican hutias do not build their
own nests. They have strong social
interactions between related individuals,
which can include mutual grooming, play,
and soft vocalizations when not in
physical contact which each other. They
have a semi-plantigrade stance, and are
excellent climbers and jumpers, often
using their front incisors for grip and
leverage.[2]
Reproduction
Little is known of how the Jamaican hutia
reproduces in the wild, but observations
from captive specimens show that the
female reaches maturity in about one year,
while males tend to reach maturity at a
somewhat older age.[2] Females usually
give birth and average of 2 litters per year,
with about two offspring per litter. The
average gestation period is 123 days. The
young are born extremely precocial, and
can walk at birth as well as eat adult foods
within about 30 hrs of birth.[2]

References
1. Kennerley, R., Turvey, S.T. & Young, R.
2018. Geocapromys brownii. The
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2018: e.T9001A22186569.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2
018-1.RLTS.T9001A22186569.en .
Downloaded on 18 December 2018.
 2. 'Anderson, Sidney. "Geocapromys
brownii" (PDF). American Society of
Mammalogists.

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