Marcano's solenodon
Marcano's solenodon (Solenodon marcanoi) is an extinct species of mammal in the family Solenodontidae known only from skeletal remains found on the island of Hispaniola.[2][3][4]
Marcano's solenodon | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Eulipotyphla |
Family: | Solenodontidae |
Genus: | Solenodon |
Species: | S. marcanoi |
Binomial name | |
Solenodon marcanoi (Patterson, 1962) | |
Description
The species was smaller than the two extant members of its genus, the Cuban solenodon and the Hispaniolan solenodon.[1] Marcano's solenodon limb bones were comparatively shorter than in these species, suggesting smaller size and possibly short stature.[3] 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.[4]
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 colonization of the island.[4]
References
- Turvey, S. & Helgen, K. (2008). "Solenodon marcanoi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T20322A9186562. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T20322A9186562.en.
- Hutterer, R. (2005). "Solenodon marcanoi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- Ottenwalder, J.A. (2001). "Systematics and biogeography of the West Indian genus Solenodon". In Woods, C.A.; Sergile, F.E. (eds.). Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives, Second Edition. Boca Raton, London, New York, and Washington, D.C.: CRC Press. pp. 253–330. doi:10.1201/9781420039481-16. ISBN 978-1-4200-3948-1. OCLC 46240352.
- Piper, Ross. author. (2009). Extinct animals : an encyclopedia of species that have disappeared during human history. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-34987-4. OCLC 268789581.