Haitian Solenodon

Hispaniolan solenodons are solitary, nocturnal and rare, and so, unsurprisingly, are rarely seen (2). They are capable of climbing near-vertical surfaces but spend most of their time searching for food on the ground. They use their flexible snout to explore cracks and crevices, and their massive claws to dig under rocks, bark and soil, for invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, insect larvae, earthworms and termites (2). The Hispaniolan solenodon is also large enough to prey on amphibians, reptiles and small birds. Indeed, local people believe it to eat snakes and chickens (4), and such remains have been found in solenodon faeces, although this may be the result of scavenging dead animals (2). It lunges at its chosen prey, pinning it down with its strong forelimbs, and then scoops up the prey with its lower jaw. A bite from the solenodon injects the victim with toxic saliva and renders the prey immobile (2). Before Europeans arrived on the island, the solenodon would have been one of the dominant carnivores on Hispaniola, and was probably only eaten occasionally by boas and birds of prey (2). Unfortunately, the situation is very different today. Solenodons have a long life span, possibly around 11 years, and a low reproductive rate. The female gives birth to one or two young in a burrow (2), which can be an extensive system of tunnels in which they forage and nest (3). During the first two months of life the young remain close to their mother and may accompany her on foraging excursions, hanging on to her elongated teats by their mouth (2).

There is thought to be little hope for this species in Haiti (2), but in the Dominican Republic, the Hispaniolan solenodon occurs in the Madre de las Aguas Conservation Area and Del Este National Park (5). These areas still face threats from logging, agriculture and cattle ranching, however conservation organisations, such as The Nature Conservancy, are working to address these threats and implement management plans for protected areas (5). Whilst the focus of efforts should be to conserve this species in protected forest reserves, the enormous pressure from increasing human populations on Hispaniola may mean the survival of this unique mammal ultimately depends on zoos (2).

This ancient and distinctive mammal, capable of secreting toxic saliva, faces very real and immediate threats to its survival (2). One of only two solenodons in existence, it resembles a large, stocky shrew, and has a distinctive, elongated snout that extends well beyond the jaw. A unique ball-and-socket joint attaches the snout to the skull allowing remarkable flexibility and mobility (2). The Hispaniolan solenodon has coarse grizzled grey-brown fur with a black forehead and yellowish flanks (2) (3). On the nape of the neck is a white spot. The stiff, muscular tail is grey except for the base and tip which are whitish. The well developed forelimbs bear long, stout, sharp claws (2), and it walks with a stiff, waddling gait with only its toes coming into contact with the ground (3).

The Hispaniolan solenodon inhabits forests (2).

Occurs only in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, on the island of Hispaniola (2).

Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).

Once one of the dominant carnivores on Hispaniola, the solenodon is now greatly threatened by predation from introduced cats, dogs and mongooses brought to the island with the arrival of the Europeans (1) (2). Even back in 1907, when a Mr Verill attempted to find the solenodon in the Dominican Republic, he attributed its restricted range to the presence of the mongoose, and felt that it was only a question of time before the mongoose would cause the solenodon's extinction (4). The destruction of forests on the island poses another significant threat to the solenodon, an animal which is particularly vulnerable to any negative impact due to its low reproductive rate (1) (2).