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Echimyidae

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Description

Echimyidae is the family of neotropical spiny rats and their fossil relatives. This is the most species-rich family of hystricognath rodents. It is probably also the most ecologically diverse, with members ranging from fully arboreal to terrestrial to fossorial habits. They presently exist mainly in South America; three members of the family also range into Central America. Species of the extinct subfamily Heteropsomyinae formerly lived on Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico in the Antilles, probably until the arrival of Europeans. Some authorities consider the nutria from southern and central South America to be a part of this family.

From Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echimyidae, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.

Source Data

Source	ID	Link
Global Biodiversity Information Facility ID (GBIF)	9436	https://www.gbif.org/species/9436
PaleoBioDB ID (PBDB)	42051	https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=42051

Rank

family

Taxonomy (GBIF,PBDB)

Life : Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Rodentia : Echimyidae

Taxonomic Status (GBIF)

accepted

Classification
(PBDB,GBIF)

Rank	Name	Author
-	Eukaryota
-	Opisthokonta	Cavalier-Smith 1987
kingdom	Animalia
-	Triploblastica	Lankester 1877
-	Nephrozoa	Jondelius et al. 2002
-	Deuterostomia	Grobben 1908
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1847
subphylum	Vertebrata	Lamarck 1801
superclass	Gnathostomata	Gegenbauer 1874
-	Osteichthyes
-	Sarcopterygii	Romer 1955
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha
-	Tetrapoda
-	Reptiliomorpha	Säve-Söderbergh 1934
-	Anthracosauria	Säve-Söderbergh 1934
-	Batrachosauria
-	Cotylosauria
-	Amniota	Haeckel 1866
-	Synapsida	Osborn 1903
-	Therapsida
infraorder	Cynodontia
-	Epicynodontia	Hopson and Kitching 2001
infraorder	Eucynodontia	Kemp 1982
-	Probainognathia	Hopson 1990
-	Mammaliamorpha	Rowe 1988
-	Mammaliaformes	Rowe 1988
class	Mammalia	Linnaeus 1758
subclass	Tribosphenida
infraclass	Eutheria
-	Placentalia	Owen 1837
-	Euarchontoglires	Murphy et al. 2001
-	Glires
order	Rodentia
suborder	Hystricomorpha
infraorder	Hystricognathi
-	Caviomorpha
superfamily	Octodontoidea	Waterhouse 1839
family	Echimyidae	Gray 1825

Common Name

spiny rat

Scientific Name

Echimyidae

Name Published In

Ann. Philos., n.s. vol.10 p.341

Opinions (PBDB)

Name	Rank	Opinion	Evidence	Author
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Glires	stated without evidence	Bonaparte, 1850
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	stated without evidence	Wood, 1958
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	stated with evidence	Wood and Patterson, 1959
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	stated without evidence	Lavocat, 1976
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	stated with evidence	Patterson and Wood, 1982
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	implied	Carroll, 1988
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Rodentia	implied	Nowak, 1991
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	implied	Nowak, 1999
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	stated with evidence	Huchon and Douzery, 2001
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Hystricognathi	stated without evidence	Kramarz et al., 2010
Echimyidae	family	belongs to Octodontoidea	stated with evidence	Sostillo et al., 2014

Status (PBDB)

extant

Taxon Size (PBDB)

Extant Size (PBDB)

44 (51%)

First Recorded Appearance

48.6 - 37.2 Ma
Eocene

Environment

terrestrial (based on Eutheria)

Motility

actively mobile (based on Osteichthyes)

Diet

herbivore

Taphonomy

phosphatic (based on Vertebrata)

Primary Reference (PBDB)

R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution

Common Name(s)

American Spiny Rats, Spiny Rat, Lansråttor, Spiny Rats

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echimyidae

External Images

Fossil Distribution

Subtaxa

Name	Status	Common Name(s)	Fossil Occurrences	Oldest	Youngest
Adelphomyinae ✝ subfamily	listed (PBDB)		16	33.9 Ma Oligocene	13.8 Ma Miocene
Chaetomyinae subfamily	listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Dactylomyinae subfamily	listed (PBDB)		2	0.13 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Echimyinae subfamily	listed (PBDB)		4	0.13 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Eumysopinae ✝ subfamily	listed (PBDB)		4	10.00 Ma Miocene	5.33 Ma Miocene
Heteropsomyinae subfamily	listed (PBDB)		14	48.6 Ma Eocene	0 Ma Extant
Acarechimys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		31	29.0 Ma Oligocene	11.6 Ma Miocene
Adelphomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		3	23.0 Ma Miocene	20.4 Ma Miocene
Boromys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		6	48.6 Ma Eocene	0.13 Ma Pleistocene
Brotomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	0.13 Ma Pleistocene	0.13 Ma Pleistocene
Callistomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Carterodon genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Caviocricetus ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		5	23.0 Ma Miocene	21.0 Ma Miocene
Chasichimys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		5	11.6 Ma Miocene	9.00 Ma Miocene
Clyomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		3	9.00 Ma Miocene	0 Ma Extant
Dactylomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Bamboo Rat	1	0.01 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Deseadomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		3	29.0 Ma Oligocene	28.4 Ma Oligocene
Dicolpomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	2.59 Ma Pleistocene
Diplomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	0.01 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Echimys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Spiny Tree-rat	2	0.13 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Eodelphomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	37.2 Ma Eocene	37.2 Ma Eocene
Eoespina ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		5	48.6 Ma Eocene	37.2 Ma Eocene
Eosachacui ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	37.2 Ma Eocene	37.2 Ma Eocene
Eosallamys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		3	37.2 Ma Eocene	28.4 Ma Oligocene
Eumysops ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		72	11.6 Ma Miocene	0.78 Ma Pleistocene
Euryzygomatomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Gaimanomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)
Haplostropha ✝ genus	doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		2	9.00 Ma Miocene	9.00 Ma Miocene
Heteropsomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	2.59 Ma Pleistocene
Hoplomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Isothrix genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Brush-tailed Rat	1	0.01 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Kannabateomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Lonchothrix genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Makalata genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Maruchito ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		2	17.5 Ma Miocene	15.5 Ma Miocene
Mesomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Spiny Tree Rat	2	0.01 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Myocastor genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		22	9.00 Ma Miocene	0 Ma Extant
Olallamys genus	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Pampamys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		8	11.6 Ma Miocene	9.00 Ma Miocene
Paradelphomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	21.0 Ma Miocene	21.0 Ma Miocene
Paramyocastor ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		12	6.80 Ma Miocene	3.60 Ma Pliocene
Pattonomys genus	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Paulacoutomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	29.0 Ma Oligocene	29.0 Ma Oligocene
Phyllomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Atlantic Tree-rat			0 Ma Extant
Proatherura ✝ genus	doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB)
Proechimys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Spiny Rat	10	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Prospaniomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		6	21.0 Ma Miocene	21.0 Ma Miocene
Prostichomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		11	23.0 Ma Miocene	17.5 Ma Miocene
Protacaremys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		7	29.0 Ma Oligocene	15.5 Ma Miocene
Protadelphomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		5	23.0 Ma Miocene	21.0 Ma Miocene
Puertoricomys genus	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Quebradahondomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	13.8 Ma Miocene	13.8 Ma Miocene
Reigechimys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		6	11.6 Ma Miocene	9.00 Ma Miocene
Ricardomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		2	13.8 Ma Miocene	13.8 Ma Miocene
Sallamys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		7	29.0 Ma Oligocene	29.0 Ma Oligocene
Santamartamys genus	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Spaniomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		15	23.0 Ma Miocene	17.5 Ma Miocene
Stichomys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		9	23.0 Ma Miocene	15.5 Ma Miocene
Theridomysops ✝ genus	doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	9.00 Ma Miocene	9.00 Ma Miocene
Thrichomys ✝ genus	listed (PBDB)	PunarÃ©	1	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	2.59 Ma Pleistocene
Thrichomys genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		2	10.00 Ma Miocene	0 Ma Extant
Toromys genus	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Trinomys genus	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Willidewu ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		4	23.0 Ma Miocene	21.0 Ma Miocene
Xylechimys ✝ genus	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	29.0 Ma Oligocene	29.0 Ma Oligocene

Synonymy List

Year	Name and Author
1825	Echimyidae Gray
1850	Echymyidae Bonaparte p. 1
1958	Echimyidae Wood p. 172
1959	Echimyidae Wood and Patterson
1976	Echimyidae Lavocat
1982	Echimyidae Patterson and Wood
1988	Echimyidae Carroll

Year	Name and Author
1991	Echimyidae Nowak
1999	Echimyidae Nowak
2001	Echimyidae Huchon and Douzery p. 246
2010	Echimyidae Kramarz et al.
2014	Echimyidae Sostillo et al. p. 286
2015	Echimyidae Upham and Patterson

References

Carroll R. L. (1988) , Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution, 1-698

Bonaparte C.-L. , Conspectus Systematis Mastozoologiae. Editio Altera Reformata [Survey of the system of mammals. Second revised edition]. E. J. Brill, Leyden, 1

Wood A. E. (1958) Are there rodent suborders?, Systematic Zoology 7 4, 169-173

Wood A. E., Patterson B. (1959) The rodents of the Deseadan Oligocene of Patagonia and the beginnings of South American rodent evolution, Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 120, 279-428

Lavocat R. (1976) Rongeurs Caviomorphes de l'Oligocène de Bolivie. 2 Rongeurs du Bassin Deseadien de Salla-Luribat, Palaeovertebrata 7, 15-90

Patterson B., Wood A. E. (1982) Rodents from the Deseadan Oligocene of Bolivia and the relationships of the Caviomorpha, Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 149 7, 371-543

Nowak R. M. (1991) Walker's Mammals of the World, Maryland, Johns Hopkins University Press (edited volume) II

Nowak R. M. (1999) , Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition II, 837-1936

Huchon D., Douzery E. J. P. (2001) From the Old World to the New World: a molecular chronicle of the phylogeny and biogeography of hystricognath rodents, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 20 2, 238-251

Kramarz A. G., Vucetich M. G., et al (2010) A new mammal fauna at the top of the Gran Barranca sequence and its biochronological significance, The Paleontology of Gran Barranca: Evolution and Environmental Change through the Middle Cenozoic of Patagonia, 264-277

Sostillo R., Montalvo C. I., et al (2014) A New Species of Reigechimys (Rodentia, Echimyidae) from the Late Miocene of Central Argentina and the Evolutionary Pattern of the Lineage, Ameghiniana 51 4, 284-294 doi:10.5710/AMGH.24.04.2014.2741

Upham N. S., Patterson B. D. (2015) Evolution of caviomorph rodents: a complete phylogeny and timetree for living genera, Biology of Caviomorph Rodents: Diversity and Evolution, 63-120

Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds., 1992: null. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2nd ed., 3rd printing. xviii + 1207. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

McKenna, Malcolm C., and Susan K. Bell, 1997: null. Classification of mammals above the species level. 631. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Woods, Charles A., and C. William Kilpatrick / Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds., 2005: Infraorder Hystricognathi Brandt, 1855. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 3rd ed., vol. 2. 1538-1600. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

American Society of Mammalogists (2018) Mammal Diversity Database. - via Dyntaxa. Svensk taxonomisk databas

Parker, S.P. (ed). (1982). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. McGraw-Hill, New York. 2 volumes. - via The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera

Data courtesy of: PBDB: The Paleobiology Database, Creative Commons CC-BY licenced. , GBIF: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, various licences, iDigBio, various licences, and EOL: The Encyclopedia of Life (Open Data Public Domain). Because fossils are made of minerals too!

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