The Hispaniolan solenodon, also known as the agouta, is a small, furry, shrew-like mammal endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, found in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Like other solenodons it is venomous and insect-eating, living in burrows and active at night; it is elusive and was not described until 1833, and while its numbers are stable in protected forests it remains a focus of conservation efforts. Its smaller sister species in the same genus, Marcano's solenodon, became extinct after European colonization, and the Hispaniolan solenodon and the rat-like Hispaniolan hutia are the only surviving mammals native to the island.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 3 Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceTypically dusky brown body with paler underside and reddish fur on the sides of the head, throat and upper chest 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source GBIF: Solenodon paradoxus
Source GBIF: Solenodon paradoxus
Source GBIF: Solenodon paradoxus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Hispaniolan solenodon - Wikipedia
Lead paragraph, first sentence
The Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus)
Wikidata Q754041, P141 IUCN conservation status
least concern
Description
they are typically dusky brown over most of the body, with a paler underside and reddish fur on the sides of the head, throat, and upper chest
- lives in burrows on Hispaniola
View the Source2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Solenodon paradoxus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyEconomic Importance for Humans: Negative Impacts
Negative Impacts crop pest
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
View the Source 4. GBIF Species API
Wikidata: Hispaniolan Solenodon
Wikidata Q754041, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: EulipotyphlaView the Source GBIF: Solenodon paradoxus
GBIFIn Biome: Tropical Dry Forest, Descriptions: biology_ecology
Usually good-quality forest in a variety of different primary tropical forest types, including dry, moist and wet broadleaf, and high-elevation pine forests
In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Descriptions: biology_ecology
Usually good-quality forest in a variety of different primary tropical forest types, including dry, moist and wet broadleaf, and high-elevation pine forests
In Biome: Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous Forest, Descriptions: biology_ecology
Usually good-quality forest in a variety of different primary tropical forest types, including dry, moist and wet broadleaf, and high-elevation pine forests
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