Giant hutia

The Riesenhutias or giant tree rats ( Heptaxodontidae ) are an extinct family of rodents ( Rodentia ). They lived up in historical time - possibly until the arrival of the Spaniards - on the Caribbean islands.

General

Riesenhutias were large rodents. The largest genus, Amblyrhiza reached an estimated weight of up to 200 kg and was significantly larger than any now living rodents. The skulls of these animals were built to last, the muzzle housed as in all guinea pig relatives 20 teeth. The bones obtained suggest a clumsy, lumbering physique.

Remains of Riesenhutias were previously found in Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Anguilla and St. Martin. Due to its size it is assumed, as opposed to the still living tree rats or Hutias that they lived exclusively on the ground.

The genera

So far, five of Riesenhutias species in four genera known.

Amblyrhiza

Amblyrhiza inundata is known of finds on the Caribbean islands of Anguilla and St. Martin. In this type, there were significant variations in size, for the most representative a skull length of 40 centimeters and an estimated weight of 50 to 200 kg is reported. From the size Amblyrhiza is often compared to an American black bear. The recent finds of this kind are around 2500 years old. It is controversial whether the animals were exterminated by the Indians or extinct on their home islands before the arrival of humans.

Elasmodontomys

Elasmodontomys oblique muscle is known from several localities in Puerto Rico. It reached the proportions of a Paka, but had a much more massive head on. The species was once common in the forested regions of their native island, but likely to have been hunted to extinction by the Indians.

Quemisia

Quemisia gravis lived on Hispaniola, the remains of this kind were found in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She was about the same as Elasmodontomys and its weight is estimated at 20 kilograms. There are Spanish reports that a process called " Quemi " animal was hunted and eaten by the natives of Hispaniola - which could indicate that Quemisia extinct until the first half of the 16th century. But there may be a confusion with the Zagutis, one still living on Hispaniola tree rats genus.

Clidomys

The genus Clidomys consisted of two types, Clidomys osborni and Clidomys parvus, both lived in Jamaica. Due to the different construction of the molars, they are in a separate subfamily, Clidomyinae, like. The body length of C. osborni is estimated to be 75-108 centimeters, C. parvus was smaller by a quarter. The exact time of extinction of Clidomys is confusion, there is no more discoveries in connection with the settlement of Jamaica by the people.