Haiti's Endangered, Poisonous Mammal: Solenodon

Haiti is home to one of the strangest, most rare, and most endangered mammals on earth, a tiny, venomous creature called the solenodon. If the name (Greek for "tooth with a groove") suggests a dinosaur instead of a nocturnal mammal about a foot long, that is appropriate, because the solenodon has been called a living fossil and dates back to the days of the dinosaurs.

Known by humans for just over a century, the solenodon is one of the earliest mammals. Although its strange snout is its most visible characteristic, it shares with some prehistoric mammals the distinction of being able to inject poison through its teeth just like poisonous snakes. Although there are other living mammals that have venom (some shrews and the platypus), no other living mammal injects venom through its teeth.

The solendon joins the Chinese river dolphin and the bumblebee bat (considered to be the smallest mammal on earth) as an object of attention of Project "Edge" (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered), which aims to save 100 unique and rare animals, with the solenodon ranked number 4 (source). What its status will be after the earthquake can only be imagined.

It was not always so for solendon. Before the European invasion of Hispaniola (the single island divided into two countries, Haiti and the Domenican Republic), the solenodon had a luxurious habitat free of predators. Then, not only were the forests cut but also dogs and cats were introduced to the island. Solenodon was, despite its venom, an easy prey, and it still is, not only for feral dogs and cats but also for hunting dogs.

Another problem for the solenodon is that it is confused with the mongoose, introduced in colonial times to kill snakes, known to kill chickens. That affects not only the local food supply, of course, but also the local entertainment, cock-fighting. There is no evidence, however, that the solendon kills poultry

The Cuban solenodon has not seen since 2003. There is a small population of the Hispaniolan solenodon in Haiti, rediscovered in 2007, and perhaps a sustainable breeding population in the Domenican Republic.

Three male solenodons live in the zoo in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Domenican Republic. But there is so little known about their way of living and feeding that it is difficult to maintain them. They are thought to eat mainly worms and insects, but they may also take small reptiles. It is not known if they use their venom to kill their prey or use it only for protection.

What does the future hold for the solenodon? Hisapniola was once home to some two dozen distinct species of mammals. Now, only two remain, the solenodon and the hutia, a rodent.

Haiti, known even before the January 2010 earthquake as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, lacks the funds to protect its wildlife, and that situation will be even harsher as the country tries to recover from the earthquake. The known solenodon habitat, identified as a "globally significant region by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)" (source) was spared by the earthquake, but other problems remain.

The solenodon is not a sexy beast. It is difficult to generate public interest in this low-key, homely little nocturnal mammal, especially with the human population of Haiti facing such challenges.

In the Domenican Republic, during a month of intensive research, only one solenodon was captured, released (after a DNA sample was obtained), and filmed. Watch the historic video.

Sources

BBC News
EDGE of Existence
Mongabay
Wikipedia

You can find an index of my articles on animals, living and extinct, here.