genus of the day: Solenodon
Oct. 3rd, 2006 10:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eubhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Solenodon_paradoxus.html
Solenodon paradoxus looks much like a shrew. However, it is considerably larger. A black to reddish-brown pelage covers the majority of the body, with the exception of the tail, feet, nose, and tips of the ears. The forelimbs are considerably more developed than the hindlegs, but all limbs have claws presumably for digging.
Its heads is large in proportion to its body and the rostrum is elongated. A defining characteristic of Solenodon paradoxus is the os proboscis, a bone (which supports a long cartilaginous snout) located on the tip of the rostrum. This species' dental formula is 3/3, 1/1, 3/3, 3/3 = 40. The second lower incisor has a groove from which a venom is secreted from a mandibular gland.
Males of this species have an unexposed penis and testes residing deep within the abdominal cavity.
[...]
Solenodon paradoxus is described as a "slow mover" and a "clumsy runner with no agility in avoiding enemies and a poor means of defense" (International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 1974). It has been observed sitting still, with its head hidden, while predators are in pursuit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenodon
The Haitian solenodon is practically extinct, with sightings of specimens or their markings occurring rather infrequently. The Cuban Solenodon was thought to have been extinct until a live specimen was found in 2003.
http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/english/milenioing/solenodon.htm
The Solenodon´s Call is heard at the End of Disconcert.
By Iliana GarcĂa Giraldino
With its body covered by abundant hair, small ears, long muzzle, strong moustache and black eyes, brilliant and homesick, the helpless meek Solenodon from millions of years, seems not to feel pride of its epic resistance of its specie to disappear and simply tries to survive in order not to be erased definitively from Earth.
Solenodon paradoxus looks much like a shrew. However, it is considerably larger. A black to reddish-brown pelage covers the majority of the body, with the exception of the tail, feet, nose, and tips of the ears. The forelimbs are considerably more developed than the hindlegs, but all limbs have claws presumably for digging.
Its heads is large in proportion to its body and the rostrum is elongated. A defining characteristic of Solenodon paradoxus is the os proboscis, a bone (which supports a long cartilaginous snout) located on the tip of the rostrum. This species' dental formula is 3/3, 1/1, 3/3, 3/3 = 40. The second lower incisor has a groove from which a venom is secreted from a mandibular gland.
Males of this species have an unexposed penis and testes residing deep within the abdominal cavity.
[...]
Solenodon paradoxus is described as a "slow mover" and a "clumsy runner with no agility in avoiding enemies and a poor means of defense" (International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 1974). It has been observed sitting still, with its head hidden, while predators are in pursuit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenodon
The Haitian solenodon is practically extinct, with sightings of specimens or their markings occurring rather infrequently. The Cuban Solenodon was thought to have been extinct until a live specimen was found in 2003.
http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/english/milenioing/solenodon.htm
The Solenodon´s Call is heard at the End of Disconcert.
By Iliana GarcĂa Giraldino
With its body covered by abundant hair, small ears, long muzzle, strong moustache and black eyes, brilliant and homesick, the helpless meek Solenodon from millions of years, seems not to feel pride of its epic resistance of its specie to disappear and simply tries to survive in order not to be erased definitively from Earth.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 07:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 03:47 pm (UTC)There appear to be venomous shrews that might like colder weather, considering one of them's called Northern. Not as mad-science-sounding as "solenodon" though.