Rare Mammals of Cuba and Hispaniola!

Solenodons (meaning "dented tooth") are venomous, nocturnal, burrowing, insectivorous mammals in the family Solenodontidae. The two living species of solenodon are the Cuban solenodon (Solenodon cubanus), and the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus).

The Hispaniolan solenodon lived in a variety of habitats on the island of Hispaniola, from dry lowland forests to highland pine forests. The other two species became extinct during the Quaternary.[1] Oligocene North American genera, such as Apternodus, have been considered relatives of Solenodon, but the origin of these animals remains unclear.[2]

Only one genus, Solenodon, is known. The others have been established but are now considered junior synonyms. Solenodontidae show recollections of primitive mammalian characteristics. In 2016, solenodons were confirmed through genetic analysis to be part of an evolutionary branch that split from the lineages of porcupines, moles, and shrews before the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.[4] They are one of two families of Caribbean soricomorphs. The other family, the Nesophontidae, became extinct in the Holocene and their relationship to solenodons is unclear.[2]

Recent genetic testing appears to indicate that they are related to each other.[5] It is thought that solenodons diverged from other living mammals about 73.6 million years ago.[6]

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#saveoursolenodon #protectisolenodon #caribbeanislands