Jamaican coney
| Jamaican coney | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Echimyidae |
| Tribe: | Capromyini
|
| Genus: | Geocapromys |
| Species: | G. brownii
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| Binomial name | |
| Geocapromys brownii (J. Fischer, 1829)
| |
The Jamaican coney (Geocapromys brownii), also known as the Jamaican hutia or Brown's hutia, is a small,
Description
The Jamaican coney is generally about the size of a
Distribution and habitat
G. 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 in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica.[2]
Ecology and behaviour
Jamaican hutias are almost exclusively
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 females reach maturity in about one year, while males tend to reach maturity at a somewhat older age.
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g 'Anderson, Sidney. "Geocapromys brownii" (PDF). American Society of Mammalogists. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-04-22.