Cuban Solenodon
Encyclopedia
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 venom
ous.
, 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 ounce (0.680388552 kg) and was healthy. It was released back into the wildlife after two days of scientific study were completed.
, although it most closely resembles members of the family Tenrecidae
, of Madagascar
. It is 16–22 in (40.6–55.9 cm) long from nose to tail and resembles a large brown rat
with an extremely elongated snout and a long, naked, scaly tail.
, 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.
They produce litters consisting of 1 to 3 young.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of soricomorph
Soricomorpha
The order Soricomorpha is taxon within the class of mammals. In previous years it formed a significant group within the former order Insectivora...
that is endemic to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It belongs to the family Solenodontidae
Solenodontidae
Solenodons are venomous, nocturnal, burrowing, insectivorous mammals 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...
along with a similar species, the Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus). The solenodon is unusual among mammals in that its saliva
Saliva
Saliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
is venom
Venom
Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
ous.
Rediscovery
Since its discovery in 1861 by the German naturalist Wilhelm PetersWilhelm Peters
Wilhelm Karl Hartwich Peters was a German naturalist and explorer.He was assistant to Johannes Peter Müller and later curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum. In September 1842 he travelled to Mozambique via Angola. He returned to Berlin with an enormous collection of natural history specimens...
, 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 ounce (0.680388552 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 shrewShrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
, although it most closely resembles members of the family Tenrecidae
Tenrecidae
Tenrecidae is a family of mammals found on Madagascar and parts of Africa. Tenrecs are widely diverse, resembling hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, mice and even otters, as a result of convergent evolution. They occupy aquatic, arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial environments...
, of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. It is 16–22 in (40.6–55.9 cm) long from nose to tail and resembles a large brown rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
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 speciesEndangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, in part because it only breeds a single litter of one to three in a year, and because of predation
Predation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
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.
External links
- Archived 2009-10-31
- EDGE of Existence "(Cuban solenodon)" Saving the World's most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species