Hispaniolan solenodon

Dominican Solenodon ( Solenodon paradoxus )

The Dominican or Haitian Solenodon ( Solenodon paradoxus ) is a mammal of the order Insectivora ( Eulipotyphla ). Together with the Cuban Solenodon it forms the family of Solenodon ( Solenodontidae ). It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola and high risk.

Features

Like all Solenodon similar to the Dominican Solenodon a large, stocky built shrew. Characteristic is the long, trunk-like nose. The legs and tail are nearly hairless. From the second Schlitzrüsslerart, the Cuban Solenodon, it differs by a shorter, harsher and brighter skin, its color from reddish brown to blackish may vary. The body length is about 28 to 39 cm and weight from 0.8 to 1 kilogram.

Like all Solenodon produces the Dominican Solenodon in the mandibular salivary gland of a neurotoxin that allows him to overpower relatively large prey.

Dissemination

The Dominican Solenodon lives as endemic species on the island of Hispaniola, both in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic. Its habitat is forests and bush with stock of grassland, sometimes it can also be found in the vicinity of plantations.

Way of life

Solenodon are primarily nocturnal. They are bottom dwellers and partly lead an underground life. They prefer to sleep in rock crevices, hollow logs, burrows or self-dug burrows back, sometimes they create even complex tunnel systems under the earth. On the surface they move away in a rather clumsy, waddling gait, they can in the case of threat but quite run fast.

They usually live in small groups, up to eight animals share the same shelter. Pre- Grown animals often remain in the same building or in the immediate vicinity of their parents.

Dominican Solenodon are omnivorous, but feed primarily on meat. Their diet consists of invertebrates such as millipedes, insects and earthworms, in addition they also take small vertebrates such as reptiles themselves. To a lesser extent they also take fruits and other plant material to itself.

Threat

Before the arrival of humans on their home island of the Dominican Solenodon had few natural enemies and therefore did not develop a defensive behavior. Have been since introduced by Europeans domestic dogs, cats and mongooses, the predation by these animals the greatest threat to the Solenodon dar. Add to this the destruction of their habitat by conversion to agricultural land and settlements.

Until the 1960s, the Dominican Solenodon were unlike their Cuban relatives was relatively common before also in this type a drastic shrinkage of the populations began. The situation in Haiti is precarious, only a few animals inhabit the mountainous regions in the south of the country. Also in the Dominican Republic, the species is now rare, overall they will be listed by the IUCN as endangered ( endangered ).