The Haitian Solenodon is a nocturnal mammal that probes the forest floor with its long, mobile snout. It searches for insects and other small animals in Hispaniola’s forests.
It has a long, flexible snout, small eyes and long claws. Its lower incisors have grooves characteristic of solenodons.
The Haitian solenodon lives only on Hispaniola in the Caribbean. A 2018 genome study compared 4,416 single-copy genes and estimated that the solenodon lineage separated from other living mammals about 73.6 million years ago. The result places this island mammal on a very old branch of the mammal family tree.
DNA differences between northern and southern samples supported a split between the two solenodon forms at least 300,000 years ago. Geographic separation within Hispaniola may have contributed to their distinct histories. The genome study adds evidence about the species' deep evolutionary past and its regional genetic structure.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Hispaniolan solenodons are endemic to Hispaniola. A 2018 genome study estimated that their lineage diverged from other living mammals about 73.6 million years ago. Genetic differences between northern and southern samples supported a regional split at least 300,000 years ago. These records provide a basis for comparing the history and relationships of local groups in conservation genetics. The genome comparison included samples from both northern and southern Hispaniola, placing local variation within the island's evolutionary record.