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In Search of the Extinct Hutia in Cave Deposits of Isla De Mona, P.R. by Ángel M

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In Search of the Extinct Hutia in Cave Deposits of Isla De Mona, P.R. by Ángel M In Search of the Extinct Hutia in Cave Deposits of Isla de Mona, P.R. by Ángel M. Nieves-Rivera, M.S. and Donald A. McFarlane, Ph.D. Isolobodon portoricensis, the extinct have been domesticated, and its abundant (14C) date was obtained on charcoal and Puerto Rican hutia (a large guinea-pig like remains in kitchen middens indicate that it bone fragments from Cueva Negra, rodent), was about the size of the surviving formed part of the diet for the early settlers associated with hutia bones (Frank, 1998). Hispaniolan hutia Plagiodontia (Rodentia: (Nowak, 1991; Flemming and MacPhee, This analysis yielded an uncorrected 14C age Capromydae). Isolobodon portoricensis was 1999). This species of hutia was extinct, of 380 ±60 before present, and a corrected originally reported from Cueva Ceiba (next apparently shortly after the coming of calendar age of 1525 AD, (1 sigma range to Utuado, P.R.) in 1916 by J. A. Allen (1916), European explorers, according to most 1480-1655 AD). This date coincides with the and it is known today only by skeletal remains historians. final occupation of Isla de Mona by the Taino from Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti, The first person to take an interest in the Indians (1578 AD; Wadsworth 1977). The Île de la Gonâve, ÎIe de la Tortue), Puerto faunal remains of the caves of Isla de Mona purpose of this article is to report some new Rico (mainland, Isla de Mona, Caja de was mammalogist Harold E. Anthony, who paleontological discoveries of the Puerto Muertos, Vieques), the Virgin Islands (St. in 1926 collected the first Puerto Rican hutia Rican hutia in cave deposits of Isla de Mona Croix, St. Thomas) (Rímoli, 1976; Díaz-Díaz, bones. Although his field notes (Anthony, and discuss the recent alleged sightings of 1983; Nowak, 1991; Woods, 1996), and 1926) provide an interesting account of his this rodent on the island and on mainland from San Salvador Island (Mylroie, personal expedition, they are not very useful when it Puerto Rico. communication). Some authors believe that comes to defining specific locations. In 1959, the Puerto Rican hutia was native to Puerto Clifford A. Kaye published his Geology of OTHER FAUNAL REMAINS Rico (Nowak, 1991) and was transported to Isla Mona, Puerto Rico, and Notes on the Age Interesting faunal remains continue to be other islands by aborigines, the Taino Indians. of Mona Passage, in which he reported hutia found in various caves of Isla de Mona. Other authors, however, strongly disagree bones (= Puerto Rican hutia) which were Common, rare, and extirpated marine and and considered it native to Hispaniola, collected from several cave deposits and from land birds such as Red-footed and Brown transported by Indians to Puerto Rico an archaeological site (= Taino site) at Playa Boobies (Sula sula, S. leucogaster), White- (Rímoli, 1976; Díaz-Díaz, 1983; Woods, Sardinera, on the west coast of Mona (Kaye, tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), 1985). Ultimately, this can only be resolved 1959). Kingbird (Tyrannus sp.), Black-capped Petrel by paleontology. The Puerto Rican hutia may Recently, the only relevant radiocarbon (Pterodroma hasitala), Audubon Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), Puerto Rican Parakeet (Aratinga chloroptera maugei), Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata vittata), reptiles such as the extinct Mona Tortoise (Geochelone [Monachelys] monensis), and a small vertebrae from an undetermined crocodile species have been collected from cave deposits (Frank & Benson, 1998). Specimens of the endemic Mona Coquí (treefrog) (Eleutherodactylus monensis), the Mona Ground Iguana (Cyclura stejnegeri), and a few species of introduced small mammals (eg., Domestic Cat [Felis catus], Black Rat [Rattus rattus of Pippin 1961, and Woods 1996), Brown Rat (?) [R. norvegicus of Wiewandt, 1973], and House Mouse [Mus musculus]) may use caves as refugia, but their bone fragments are rare in the cave deposits. A recent paleontological survey has collected a few shark teeth (Carcharodon?) embedded in eroded beachrock, which add the promise of new discoveries. Three bat species, the Antillean Ghost- faced Bat (Mormoops blainvillii), Puerto Rican Mastiff Bat (Molossus molossus fortis), and the Great Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus mastivus) are known to live on Isla de Mona (Woods, 1996), but bat bone fragments are extremely rare in the caves. Chemical and biological activity within fresh guano digests these bones and they do not often survive to become part of the fossil record (Frank & Benson, 1998). Nevertheless, a few small insectivorous bat colonies are present today (eg., a bat cave in Uvero; the bat chamber in Cueva Caballo/Pájaros, and few individuals in Cueva de Chito, both in Playa Reconstruction of the Puerto Rican hutia. Drawing by the senior author. de Pájaros). The Great Bulldog Bat is rarely 92 NSS NEWS, April 2001 seen in Isla de Mona, although on the Puerto Rico mainland it is often seen fishing by low flying between the lagoon and the nearshore between Pt. Guaniquilla and Joyuda (Cabo Rojo), the mangrove channels of La Parguera (Lajas), and on Islas Culebra and Vieques. Invertebrate fossils are common in Isla de Mona cave deposits, and include gastropods (Bulimulus, Cerion, Chondropoma, Lacteoluna, Lucidella, Suavitas), scallops (Pecten), corals (Acropora, Caulastrea, Montastrea, Mussa, Stylophora, Undaria), planktonic foraminiferans, benthic foraminiferans (Amphistegina, Archaias, Nummulites), bryozoans, and echinoderms (spines and test fragments, probably Cidaris). Red and green algae deposits are also common in reef complex deposits through the island (González et al., 1997). THE CAVES Cueva Negra is an abandoned mined phreatic cave with a shallow sediment floor, carved in the Lirios Limestone unit and located behind Playa Sardinera, west Isla de Mona, at an altitude of 10 m above mean village?). The junior author collected the third caves should be left in place and reported to sea level. At the two entrances, piles of rocks Puerto Rican hutia hemimandible in 1994 local paleontologists, archaeologists, or have been stacked to support tram rails for from a depth of 30 centimeters in an museums. The context in which the bones the transport of bat guano during the mining excavation into the sediment floor of the are found is important to the interpretation operations during the late 19th and early 20th Cathedral Room, Cueva Lirio. Unfortunately, of the finds, and vital information can be lost centuries. Aboriginal pictographs are present none of these specimens has yet been through careless collection. In 1919, Isla de on the soft limestone walls, together with radiocarbon-dated, but the Playa Sardinera Mona was declared “Insular Forest” and a other designs that have obviously been faked specimens are likely to be contemporaneous decade ago it was afforded the status of a by more recent visitors. An early name written with late Taino occupation (<1500 years natural reserve. Today the island is protected in one of the chamber walls reads “John before present) and the Cueva Lirio by local and federal laws, and written Dennis 1745 RD” and pre-dates the guano- specimen is likely to be latest Pleistocene (< permission to collect fossils (or other material) mining period. Wall writings such as these 20,000 years before present) or Holocene for educational or scientific purposes must were previously noticed by Wadsworth (< 10,000 years before present) in age. be obtained a priori from the Puerto Rico (1977). Subfossil bones of the extinct Puerto Rican Department of Natural & Environmental Cueva Lirios is an extensive cave formed hutia are fragile and must be handle with Resources (PRDNER). Unfortunately, guano at the interface of the Lirios Limestone and care. Paleontological remains discovered in mining and decades of careless tourism have the underlying Isla de Mona Dolomite. This cave is located next to El Faro (“The Lighthouse”), eastern Isla de Mona. Cueva Lirios opens spectacularly into the face of a 45-meter-high, overhung seacliff. This impressive cave was also extensively used for Luis Padilla guano mining operations during the early years of this century. The cave is famous for a spectacular chamber known as the “Cathedral Room,” cave pearls, wind- sculpted speleothems, and spectacular coastal views. Cuevas Lirios and Negra are among the most popular caves visited by hikers, and have been favorite paleontological sites visited by scientists in past years. THE COLLECTION In 1989 and 1995, the senior author found two Puerto Rican hutia jawbones in the Playa Sardinera area. These hemimandibles were collected incidentally from topsoil while obtaining samples for the study of soil microfungi. One was collected at the entrance of Cueva Negra, the other in the palm forest Tony Nieves (PRDNER) sitting at the bottom of the larger depression of Cuevas del close to Cueva Negra (on the ancient Taino Centro. NSS NEWS, April 2001 93 Commenting on extinct hutias in the Maricao Commonwealth Forest, he wrote: “However, recent evidence from Maricao suggest that the “Jutía” (Isolobodon portoricensis), a large rodent, believed by Timmy Ortiz (PRDNER). scientists to have been Lower jawbone (hemimandible) of the extinct for approximately extinct Puerto Rican hutia collected in 200 years, may still exist Sardinera. there [Maricao Forest] in small numbers. Every effort should be made to exacted a toll on many of the caves of Isla verify this in the valleys de Mona. Cueva Negra in particular has on the north side of the been heavily vandalized. forest and steps should be Senior author viewing Indian rock art from a cave next to Pt. taken to provide RECENT SIGHTINGS? Capitán. Are they genuine? increased protection to Early accounts of surviving Puerto Rican this zone” (Raffaele, 1977). reduced by excessive human hunting hutias date from 1916, when the hutia Raffaele recorded other sightings of the (Nowak, 1991). The Puerto Rican barn owl discoverer in person (J. A. Allen) reported Puerto Rican hutia in the gorge of the Río is not known from the fossil record of Isla de fresh remains from caves of mainland Puerto Casey, Las Marías municipality (mainland Mona.
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