116 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



This is an interesting genus, closely related to Geocapromys 

 and apparently taking its place on Hispaniola, where it was 

 contemporary with other species of the recent cave fauna, such 

 as Isolobodon, Aphaetreus, and the still-living Plagiodontia. 

 At first glance the tooth pattern in the lower jaw is very 

 similar to that in Geocapromys ingrahami irrectus in having the 

 long enamel reentrants of the two last molars extend well be- 

 yond the center of the tooth. The anteriormost tooth, the 

 premolar, however, differs from that of Geocapromys and 

 agrees with Capromys in lacking the additional small inner 

 reentrant to the first section. In the palate the convergence 

 of the tooth rows anteriorly is similar to their appearance in 

 Geocapromys, and the relation of the incisor roots to the first 

 premolar is likewise the same, but, as Miller points out, the 

 root of the premolar is "thrown conspicuously forward away 

 from that of the first molar." Other characters are the less 

 specialized roots of the cheek teeth, which appear to close with 

 age instead of continually growing, and "the extension of the 

 lower incisor root to the outer side of the mandibular tooth 

 row." Size probably about as in the Cuban Capromys pilorides 

 but perhaps with a shorter rostrum. Maxillary tooth row 

 (alveoli), 22 mm. 



This animal is known from a palate, six mandibles, and four 

 isolated cheek teeth, collected by Miller from caves in central 

 Haiti near St. Michel and 1'Atalaye. At first sight it might 

 easily be taken for a Geocapromys, which is as yet unknown 

 from Hispaniola. The characters pointed out by Miller, 

 however, appear to be distinctive. It was presumably ex- 

 terminated soon after white occupation. 



HISPANIOLAN HUTIA; "RAT-CAYES" 



PLAGIODONTIA AEDIUM F. Cuvier 



Plagiodontia aedium F. Cuvier, Ann. Sci. Nat., zool., ser. 2, vol. 6, p. 347, 1836 ("Saint- 



Domingue," taken as Haiti by Miller). 

 FIGS.: Cuvier, 1836, pi. 17 (exterior and skull); Miller, 1927, pi. 1, fig. 2. 



PLAGIODONTIA HYLAEUM Miller 



Plagiodontia hylaeum Miller, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 72, art. 16, p. 4, 1927 ("Gua- 



rabo, 10 miles east of Jovero, Samana Province, Dominican Republic"). 

 FIGS.: Miller, 1927, pi. 1, figs. 1, la-lc (skull). 



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