Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
OrdoTherapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Eutheria
Cohort: Placentalia
Ordo: Soricomorpha
Familia: Solenodontidae
Genus: Solenodon
Species: Solenodon cubanus
Name
Solenodon cubanus Peters, 1861
Type locality: Cuba, Oriente Prov., Bayamo
Holotype: ZMB - 2761
Synonyms
Solenodon poeyanus Barbour, 1944
References
Peters, W. Monatsb. K. Preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1861: 169.
Links
Solenodon cubanus in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Solenodon cubanus Peters, 1861 (Endangered)
Solenodon cubanus Peters, 1861 – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Cuban Solenodon
español: Almiquí cubano
magyar: Kubai patkányvakond, almiquí
polski: Almik kubański
The Cuban solenodon, or almiquí (Atopogale cubana), is a species of eulipotyphlan endemic to Cuba. It is the only species in the genus Atopogale. 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 toxic and acts as venom.
Taxonomy
Although formerly classified in the genus Solenodon, phylogenetic evidence supports it being in its own genus, Atopogale.[3]
Rediscovery
Illustration
Since its discovery in 1861 by the German naturalist Wilhelm Peters, only 36 had ever been caught. By 1970, some thought 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 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 found in 2003 was named Alejandrito. It had a mass of 24 oz (0.68 kg) and was healthy. It was released back into the wild 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 in (41–56 cm) long from nose to tail-tip and resembles a large brown rat with an extremely elongated snout and a long, naked, scaly tail.
Status
Willy Ley wrote in 1964 that the Cuban solenodon was, if not extinct, among "the rarest animals on earth".[4] It was declared extinct in 1970, but was 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 the invasive small Asian mongoose introduced by humans. The species is also thought to be threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation due to logging and mining, and predation by feral cats and dogs.[5]
Distribution
It is endemic to mountainous forests in eastern Cuba, in the provinces of Holguín, Guantánamo, and Santiago de Cuba. It is nocturnal and travels at night along the forest floor, looking for insects and small animals on which to feed.
Behavior
This species 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, they can kill lizards, frogs, small birds, or even rodents. They seem not to be immune to the venom of their own kind, and cage mates have been reported dying after fights.
Mating
Cuban solenodons only meet to mate and the male mates with multiple females. The males and females are not found together unless they are mating. The pair will meet up, mate, then separate. The males do not participate in raising any of the young.
References
Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Soricomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 222–223. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S.T.; Young, R. (2018). "Atopogale cubana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T20320A22327125. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T20320A22327125.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
"Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
Ley, Willy (December 1964). "The Rarest Animals". For Your Information. Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 94–103.
"Cuban Solenodon". EDGE of Existence.
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
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