The venomous nocturnal mammal from the Caribbean with a long snout and unusual evolutionary history is the solenodon.
Solenodons are shrew-like mammals native to Cuba and Hispaniola, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Only two living species remain: the Cuban solenodon and the Hispaniolan solenodon. They spend much of the night searching through leaf litter and soil for insects, worms, small vertebrates, fruit, and other food.
Their venom is delivered through grooves in modified lower incisors, an exceptionally rare feature among mammals. The venom comes from enlarged salivary glands and helps subdue prey. This is why solenodons are often described as one of the few venomous mammals alive today.
They are not rodents, moles, or true shrews, despite their similar appearance. Solenodons belong to their own ancient family, Solenodontidae, and are sometimes called “living fossils” because their lineage has survived on Caribbean islands for tens of millions of years. Habitat loss and introduced predators such as cats, dogs, and mongooses threaten both living species.