Cuban Solenodon

Cuban Solenodon
Cuban Solenodon[1]
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Soricomorpha
Family: Solenodontidae
Genus: Solenodon
Species: S. cubanus
Binomial name
Solenodon cubanus
Peters, 1861
Cuban Solenodon range

The Cuban Solenodon or Almiqui (Solenodon cubanus), is a species of soricomorph that is endemic to Cuba. It belongs to the family Solenodontidae along with a similar species, the Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus). The solenodon is unusual among mammals in that its saliva is venomous.

Contents

Rediscovery

Since its discovery in 1861 by the German naturalist Wilhelm Peters, only 36 had ever been caught. By 1970, some thought that the Cuban Solenodon had become extinct, since no specimens had been found since 1890. Three were captured in 1974 and 1975, and subsequent surveys showed that it still occurred in many places in central and western Oriente Province, at the eastern end of Cuba; however, it is rare everywhere. Prior to 2003, the most recent sighting was in 1999, mainly because it is a nocturnal burrower, living underground, and thus is very rarely seen. The Cuban Solenodon that was found in 2003, named Alejandrito, brought the number ever caught to 37. It had a mass of 24 ounces (0.68 kg) and was healthy. It was released back into the wildlife after two days of scientific study were completed.

Appearance

With small eyes, and dark brown to black hair, the Cuban Solenodon is sometimes compared to a shrew, although it most closely resembles members of the family Tenrecidae, of Madagascar. It is 16–22 inches (41–56 cm) long from nose to tail and resembles a large brown rat with an extremely elongated snout and a long, naked, scaly tail.

Status

The Cuban Solenodon was declared extinct in 1970. They were rediscovered in 1974. Since 1982 it has been listed as an endangered species, in part because it only breeds a single litter of one to three in a year, and because of predation by species that were introduced by humans.

Behavior

It has a varied diet. At night, they search the forest floor litter for insects and other invertebrates, fungi, and roots. They climb well and feed on fruits, berries, and buds, but have more predatory habits, too. With venom from modified salivary glands in the lower jaw, it can kill lizards, frogs, small birds, or even rodents. They seem not to be immune to the venom of their own kind, and there are records of cage mates dying after fights.

They produce litters consisting of 1 to 3 young.

References

  1. ^ Hutterer, Rainer (16 November 2005). "Order Soricomorpha (pp. 220-311)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 222-223. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13700016. 
  2. ^ Soy, J. & Mancina, C. A. (2008). "Solenodon cubanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/20320. Retrieved 25 June 2011. 

External links