- Solenodon
Taxobox
name = "Solenodon"MSW3 Hutterer | pages = 222-223]
fossil_range = MidOligocene to Recentcite book |author= Savage, RJG, & Long, MR|year=1986 |title= Mammal Evolution: an illustrated guide|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 51|isbn= 0-8160-1194-X]
image_width = 250px
image_caption =Cuban Solenodon ("Solenodon cubanus")
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
ordo =Soricomorpha
familia = Solenodontidae
familia_authority = Gill, 1872
genus = "Solenodon
genus_authority = Brandt, 1833
type_species = "Solenodon paradoxus "
type_species_authority = Brandt, 1833
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = †"Solenodon arredondoi" "Solenodon cubanus" †"Solenodon marcanoi" "Solenodon paradoxus"Solenodons are
nocturnal , burrowing,insectivorous mammal s belonging to the family Solenodontidae. Only one genus, "Solenodon ", is known, although a few other genera were erected at one time and are now regarded as junior synonyms. The Solenodontidae family is interesting tophylogenetics researchers due to its retention of primitive mammal characteristics; their species resemble very closely those that lived near the end of the age of the dinosaurs.The two living solenodon species are the
Cuban Solenodon ("Solenodon cubanus"), and the Haitian orHispaniolan Solenodon ("Solenodon paradoxus"). The group was once much more widespread throughout North America, including genera such as "Apternodus " from theOligocene .Characteristics
Solenodons resemble very large
shrew s, and are often compared to them; with extremely elongated cartilaginous snouts, long, naked, scaly tails, small eyes, and coarse, dark brown to black hair. The snout is flexible, and in the Hispaniola Solenodon, actually has a ball-and-socket joint at the base to increase its mobility. This allows the animal to investigate narrow crevices where potential prey may be hiding. Between 28-32 centimeters (11-13 inches) long from nose to rump, and weighing between 700–1,000g (25–35oz)cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Nicoll, Martin|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 748-749|isbn= 0-87196-871-1] , solenodons are known to become very easily agitated and may squeal or bite with little or no provocation.Solenodons have a few intriguing traits, two of them being the position of the teats (2) on the female, almost on the buttocks of the animal, and the second being the venomous
saliva that flows from modified salivary glands in themandible through grooves on the second lowerincisor s ("solenodon" derives from the Greek "grooved tooth"). Solenodons are among a handful ofvenomous mammals .The diet of solenodons consists largely of insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates, but they also eat vertebrate
carrion , and perhaps even some living vertebrate prey such as small reptiles or amphibians. Solenodons have a relatively unspecialised, and almost complete, dentition, with a dental formula of: dentition2|3.1.3.3|3.1.3.3Solenodons give birth in a nesting burrow, to one or two young. The young remain with the mother for several months, and initially follow the mother about by hanging onto her elongated
teat s. Once they reach adulthood, solenodons are solitary animals, who rarely interact except to breed.tatus
Both species became
endangered species due to predation by theSmall Asian Mongoose (specifically subspecies "Herpestes javanicus auropunctatus"), which was introduced in colonial times to hunt snakes and rats, as well as by feral cats and dogs. The Hispaniolan Solenodon is practically extinct, with sightings of specimens or their spoor occurring rather infrequently. The Cuban Solenodon was thought to have been extinct until a live specimen was found in 2003. TheMarcano's Solenodon ("Solenodon marcanoi") went extinct in theHolocene .References
External links
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Solenodon_paradoxus.html Entry at Animal Diversity Web]
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