Solenodons

The Solenodontidae mammal family only has two extant species: The Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) and the smaller Cuban Solenodon (Solenodon cubanus or Atopogale cubanus). These are the last two surviving native (non-flying) insectivorous mammals found in the Caribbean. Solenodon are one of the few mammals that can secrete toxic saliva via channeled teeth (sōlēn is greek for 'channel' and odō means 'tooth'). Unlike snakes, these channeled teetch are the bottom incisors. Solenodon paradoxus ancestors have been around for around 76million years (Roca et al. 2004). Although the Hispaniolan solenodon was first described in 1833, its secretive and nocturnal habits means we still know very little about its biology or ecology. They are present across Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican Republic) and have been recorded in a variety of forested habitats across a range of altitudes. Their populations are thought to be highly fragmented