Solenodon

Well hello Tuesday, how many have heard of the Solenodon I hadn’t till now. They are a venomous, nocturnal, burrowing insectivorous mammals belonging to the Solenodontidae family. That help any, nope didn’t help me know what they are either.

They have elongated snout which is flexible which means it can twist and turn its snout to probe tiny nooks and crannies for food. They are generally omnivores that prefer animal material and prey primarily on invertebrates but also scavenge on vertebrate remains. They will also eat insects, worms, small reptiles, roots,fruits and leaves.

Native to Cuba and Hispaniola the 30cm or around 12 inches they are one of the very few venomous mammals around. Similar to snakes it injects its poison through teeth that have special groves to carry the venom.

The female has two nipples for feeding her young at the rear of her stomach.

When threatened they grunt like a pig or make birds cries.