Marcano's solenodon


Marcano's solenodon is an extinct species of mammal in the family Solenodontidae known only from skeletal remains found on the island of Hispaniola.

Description

The species was smaller than the two extant members of its genus, the Cuban solenodon and the Hispaniolan solenodon. Marcano's solenodon limb bones were comparatively shorter than in these species, suggesting smaller size and possibly short stature. Like its congenerics, it probably was a nocturnal, burrowing, shrew-like mammal with a long snout, that fed on insects and other invertebrates including earth worms, small reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals.
The remains were found in association with those from rats of the genus Rattus, which suggests that Marcano's solenodon survived until the time of European colonisation of the island.