The species is nocturnal and finds shelter during the day by burrowing or hiding in hollow logs or crevices. Classed as an insectivore, the solenodon feeds mostly on spiders and insects found in the soil, although the diet may be supplemented with worms, snails and occasional plant material. The solenodon is one of the few species of mammal that can produce toxic saliva (along with some species of shrew). A special groove in the second incisor carries the venom to its prey.

The reproductive rate of this species is low, with females producing two litters containing 1-3 offspring per year. The young stay with their parents for several months, while other offspring are born and raised. The lifespan of wild solenodons is thought to be relatively long, as one individual survived for more than eleven years in captivity.

Found in forests and brush country.

No current estimates.

Classified as Endangered (EN A1cde) on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The main threats are habitat loss due to increasing human activity and deforestation, and the introduction of exotic predators, such as dogs, cats and mongooses. Since the species had no natural predators before European colonisation of Hispaniola, and is a slow clumsy mover, it does not possess many defences against introduced animals.

The species is fully protected by law. It is known to occur in only two protected areas in the Dominican Republic, the Jaragua and Parque del Este National Parks. Both areas are threatened by deforestation for farming and charcoal production. The US Agency for International Development and the Nature Conservancy are currently working with local non-governmental organisations to improve protection and implement management plans for these parks (Parks in Peril programme).

In 1975 a captive breeding programme was established to safeguard against extinction. One solenodon was kept at London Zoo in the 1960s. Unfortunately this programme was not a success, due to the difficulty of keeping the species in captivity.

Solenodons are among the few native non-flying mammals that survived human settlement of the islands of the West Indies. In order to develop effective conservation strategies to ensure their survival, we need to understand why almost all the region’s other mammals have already died out. Further studies need to be carried out into the distribution, abundance and ecology of the species in other regions of Hispaniola. The impact of introduced predators and potential competition with black rats should also be assessed.

Baillie, J. 1996. Solenodon paradoxus. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 11 August 2006.

The Nature Conservancy in the Dominican Republic< br/>
Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.

Roca, A. L., Bar-Gal, G. K., Eizirik, E., Helgen, K. M., Maria, R., Springer, M. S., O’Brien, S. J. & Murphy, W. J. 2004. Mezozoic origin for West Indian insectivores. Nature 429: 649-651.

Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.