Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 53 (1): 93-98 — 1983

Remarks on the biology and zoogeography of

Solenodon (Atopogale) cubanus Peters, 1861 (Mammalia, Insectivora)

by

Luis S. Varona

Norte 29, Nuevo Vedado, La Habana 6, Cuba

Summary INTRODUCTION

The biology of cubanus Peters, 1861, is poorly 1833 known. and in The insectivore Solenodon Brandt, is Recently, a male two females were studied genus

be of the the Havana Zoo and observations on this were considered to one oldest and most

The docile unless made in the field as well. were and be basal placental, recent may startled handled infor- or roughly. Previously unpublished indeed. It in called a "living fossil" occurs only mation ontheir morphology, salivary toxicity, gland secre- two forms: in Cuba Solenodon (Atopogale) cubanus tion, feeding habits, activity, predators, living quarters, Peters, 1861, and in Solenodon social behavior, etc., is given. The present geographic Hispaniola distribution is centered in humid forests moun- 1833. On the latter dense, on paradoxus Brandt, some tains of the with relict in eastern provinces populations reliable work has been published, but about the and central and western Cuba. The mongoose (Herpestes ) former little is known. In in the only very fact, that feral dog are potential predators are actually not sym- course of this century, the Cuban Solenodon was with Solenodon. Feral the patric cats pose greatest several times be extinct. nonhuman threat to the continued existence of this most thought to already interesting endemic to Cuba. However, thanks to strict protection laws in

Cuba, the declared man-

survive will be shown in this aged to and, as Résumé paper, even covers a geographically larger area

than before. Les connaissances sur la biologie de Solenodon cubanus thought mâle The last and Peters, 1861, sont imparfaites. Récemment un et possibly only photographs deux femelles de cette espèce ont été étudiés dans le Zoo de hitherto of Cuban Solenodon published a living La Havane des Solenodon été et observations sur cubanus ont the in 1909 showing entire , were taken faites aussi dans la nature. Les animaux se sont montrés by Dr. E. Lönnberg, Stockholm, and published dociles, sauf s’ils étaient effrayés ou lors d’un traitement Mohr Later showed la by (1938). photographs brutal. On présente des informations inédites sur mor- phologie, la toxicité salivaire, les sécrétions glandulaires, le either only parts of living specimens or stuffed

lié à la prise de nourriture, l’activité, les with the of in comportement ones, exception a specimen prédateurs, les gîtes utilisés, le comportement social, etc. crouchiner position published by Barbour centrée les forêts den- La distribution géographiqueest sur

des orientales de (1944). ses et humides des montagnes provinces Three adult Cuban Cuba wild-caught Cuba, des populations relictaires subsistant au cen- les chiens observed in the Havana Garden tral et occidental. La mangouste (Herpestes) et Zoological retournés à l’état sont des basis of adult sauvage prédateurs potentiels form the part of this report. An Solenodon. qui actuellement ne sont sympatriques avec pas male caught 26 April 1974 in Duaba Arriba, Les chats à retournés l’état sauvage représentent le danger province Holgufn, died 29 March 1975 of le de la de l’homme plus grave (menace part exceptée) an la de fort intéressant et digestive problems following endoparasitic pour survie ce mammifère endémi-

de faune de Cuba. infection. An adult female from La que la Zoilita, 94 L. S. VARONA - BIOLOGY OF SOLENODON CUBANUS

Sierra del Cristal, Holguin, died 26 months strange humans or conspecifics. The deep pink

1 December 1974. The second faded after removal of the stimuli. after capture on rapidly

in 1975 Ar- female was captured July at Mayari riba, Holguin, and died of digestive malfunc- Adaptations and 11 months. first- tion after 6 years The two

mentioned individuals are represented in fig. 1. The flexible snout continually moves during

animals foraging or when other are present.

Along with considerable movement of the long

vibrissae, these motions apparently compensate BIOLOGY for the in this micro- presumed poor eyesight

phthalmic species. Proboscis involvement with Coloration echolocation as suggested by Eisenberg & Gould

individuals and for S. be Color variation is great among (1966) paradoxus could, however, not

is age-related (Poey, 1851; Gundlach, 1877; confirmed. Whatever the visual restrictions of

Varona, 1974, 1980). Dark brown or black the Cuban species, they do not prevent

sides. muzzle characterizes the dorsum and The response to bright light.

white and these col- the and shoulders are to yellow Though the elongated snout places buccal

extend the flanks and The behind the the ors may over venter. opening considerably nostrils, usually pale-pink proboscis of the male occa- mouth is not restricted. Indeed, when irritated,

intensified did the distal when its curls its dor- sionally (as tail) a Solenodonretracts lips, snout the animal stimulated sudden and with bared was by handling, sally, teeth, presents a gape

bursts of with similar of noise, light, or confrontation to that marsupials (see fig. 3). During

1. On the left Solenodon cubanus. the hair the heads and Fig. a female, on the right a male of Note long on the tiny eyes. BIJDRAGEN TOT DE DIERKUNDE, 53 (1) - 1983 95

frequent drinking, the proboscis is held parallel secretions kill injected mice (Rabb, 1959), but

ill above the surface of the liquid, which is lapped bites to humans elicit no effects (Mohr, 1937;

dog-fashion. Poduschka, 1975). Three reports of S. cubanus

muscular tail however. A farmer's from the The is strong but flexible and is conflict, dog prov-

with the hind form ince Guantânamo died with unhealed wounds used, along legs, to a tripod

the animal sits free the hands after bitten Solenodon. Gundlach on which to for being by a

swollen manipulation of objects. Allen's (1910) com- (1877) reported that a man suffered a

the tail is mobile and after cubanus bite that ments notwithstanding, arm a S. and he himself

be forward from the can brought alongside the body or experienced inflammation of a wound

used in supporting the body during climbing, lower (but not upper) incisors of this species.

for which the claws A bite hand thumb and fore- long are adapted. to my (between

finger) by the male in this study also preceded Salivary toxicity adverse reactions, even though medical atten-

is asserted that the lower of S. It second incisors tion was promptly provided. Body temperature

ducted whose elevated for week inflammation paradoxus are to maxillary glands a to 38.5-40°C;

Fig. 2. Female Solenodon cubanus, captured in 1981 in the Sierra del Cristal, Holguín, and released again at the same site. 96 L. S. VARONA - BIOLOGY OF SOLENODON CUBANUS

spread from the forearm proximally; painful Activity pattern

thorax and head were accompanied by S. cubanus is essentially nocturnal, sleeping hypalbuminuria (36%) and increased alpha curled on his side with nose tucked into his ab- (13.4%) and (27.5%) globulin titers. gamma the domen, often with forearms over head. Hematological analysis was negative, but From dusk to dawn, however, the Almiqui in- microbiological examination of the blood searches for available When cessantly any prey. revealed Clostridium (see Anonymus, 1975). threatened or frightened, he rapidly seeks the S. cubanus, like S. paradoxus (see Poduschka, security of a hide-out. 1975), bites rapidly and repeatedly, inflicting

considerable subcutaneous damage which is Agonistic behavior slow to heal.

If unable to passively defend by retreating to

behavior S. its hind and Social and reproduction shelter, cubanus rears upon legs

tail. It then strikes out with the sharp foreclaws the male described When captured, here was and bites to either side. Afterwards, it bristles, with female and which a two young were the long dorsal hairs erecting to uncover the Both discarded after being killed by a dog. nearly hairless lower back. The same females were also accompanied when caught; behavioral complex is revealed when fighting the first by a male (killed by a dog) and the sec- conspeciflcs. Confronted with dogs or cats, ond by two juveniles and five others, all of however, the Solenodon flees, unable to suc- which fortunately escaped. A male taken in cessfully repel these introduced adversaries. 1912 near Moa was with four other Solenodons when he his Nevertheless, cornered, snaps at in hiding a cave "like crabs" (Bofill, 1948). S. predators. cubanus thus sociable and the seems young may remain with the for time. parents a protracted

Obviously, in the Solenodontidae there is but

No one baby (Mohr, 1936; Ottenwalder, 1979).

twin known. The births are report on even

three babies (Verrill, 1907) is dubious.

Feeding

As notedby Poey (1851), S. cubanus (the "Almi-

quf') consumes large quantities of insects but also takes caterpillars, land crabs, frogs, toads,

and bird lizards, snakes, eggs. Chopped meat and other food is eaten by captive animals, but

diarrhea. Tubers refused. Fig. 3. Male Solenodon cubanus in state of defense. Note the may cause are Meat curved proboscis and the raised vibrissae. hidden under 7.5 cm of earth was detected, un-

covered, and eaten.

The male studied here sniffed food of- any Skin glands fered, while undulating his trunk. Large items

held down with the A S. were foreclaws while popular common name for cubanus is "Ber- dismembered and eaten. Favorite foods were renchin", and indeed, their odor resembles

Columba that of male This odor is Anolis, eggs, Hyla, roaches (Periplaneta), weakly goats. and land which An with from crabs, were eaten noisily. presumably associated the secretions

Anolis taken from hand ventral described for both of was even the observer's a gland field sexes

the by lifting body on the hind legs and the tail S. paradoxus (see Starck & Poduschka, 1982) and

from as on a tripod. whose secretions have impressed observers BIJDRAGEN TOT DE DIERKUNDE, 53 (1) - 1983 97

Poey (1851) to the present (Regalado, pers. ZOOGEOGRAPHY comm.).

The of all three animals observed S. cubanus has been distributed in Cuba axillae were widely

coated with a sticky, mildly acrid liquid. This li- during the Pleistocene and precolumbian

and its shown fossil remains of quid, odor, were easily transferred to my Holocene, as is by re-

hands and presumably originated in the ventral cent specimens and of undescribed members of

gland field. the genus. Until the second halfof the last cen-

tury, S. cubanus was known from the entire Shelter mountain del where range (Sierra Escambray),

S. cubanus to den in hollow it called prefers logs or was "tacuache". Recently it was between In underground tree roots. moun- thought to be confined to the eastern provinces tainous it hides in crevices between areas, large of Holguin, Guantânamo, and Granma (Pro-

in diameter rocks. Tunnel openings 10-12 cm vincia de Oriente until 1975), where it is known

lead into burrow complex systems dug parallel as "tejon".

with the surface of the under of these conducted ground, usually A survey provinces was

tree roots. Single or interconnected (up to during the late 1970's with the view of

circular lined with leaves three) nests coarse are establishing forest fauna refuges. This revealed

constructed females one or more the of S. cubanus in humid presumably by presence upland

the season. forest during breeding primary areas (fig. 4): Baracoa,

Guantânamo (1); Sierra del Cristal, Holguin Predators Granma (2); near Bayamo, (the locality of the

The chief of S. cubanus is the first described well potential enemy specimens by Poey) (3); as

feral cat (Felis catus) which can enter the as in the Sierra Maestra, Santiago de Cuba (4).

Solenodon's tunnels and dens. Farmers and In 1975, relatively fresh osteological material of

that the S. cubanus obtained from del mountaineers report typical Solenodon was the Sierra

habitat is unsuitable for feral dogs (

and that in there indications its familiaris) they are any event too ly, are even of occurrence

large to enter Solenodon shelters. Introduced in the Sierra de los Organos, Pinar del Rio (6),

1975-76. mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus; "huron") reported in

diurnal and do in the S. is are not occur humid, Though apparently rare, cubanus thus

dense forests Solenodons. distributed than favored by Though more widely previously

Cuba widespread over and a potential threat, thought. Three animals have recently (1976,

is known have killed Solenodon. been and released in Herpestes not to 1981, 1982) captured ac-

boundaries. Numbers Fig. 4. Map of Cuba with the new (since 1975)province refer to the recent

areas of occurrence: (1) Baracoa, Prov. Guantánamo; (2) Sierra del Cristal, Prov. Holguín; (3)

Bayamo, Prov. Granma; (4) Sierra Maestra, Prov. Santiago de Cuba; (5) Sierra del Escambray,

Prov. Sancti Spiritus; (6) Sierra de los Organos, Prov. Pinar del Río. 98 L. S. VARONA - BIOLOGY OF SOLENODON CUBANUS

the of other Insectivora. Zoologica, 51 cordance with protective law at the site of cap- behavior (1): 49-58. ture. In each instance, the captured Solenodons GUNDLACH, J. C., 1877. Contribution a la mamalogi'a of small of animals. were members groups cubana: 1-53 Montiel La (G. y Cia, Habana). and of Skeletal remains, scats, reports sightings MOHR, E., 1936. Biologische Beobachtungen an Soleno- reliable observers all the above- by point to don paradoxus Brandt in Gefangenschaft. II. Zool. extensions in the Anz., 116 65-76. mentioned range remaining (3/4):

, 1937. Biologische Beobachtungen an Solenodon primary habitat of south-central and western paradoxus Brandt in Gefangenschaft. III. Zool. Anz., Cuba (fig. 4). 117 (9/10): 233-241.

, 1938. Biologische Beobachtungen an Solenodon

paradoxus Brandt in Gefangenschaft. IV. Zool. Anz., ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 122 (5/6): 132-143. I thank Dr. W. Poduschka for his assistance in preparing OTTENWALDER, J. A., 1979. born I indebted Dr. B. this for publication. am also to paper at Santo Domingo Zoo. AAZPA Newsl., 20 (5): 24. for to Prof. O. Arredondo for in- Woloszyn photographs, PODUSCHKA, W., 1975. Solenodon story. Wildlife, 17 (3): formation P. for on range extensions, to Regalado 107-111. valuable information and and Dir. D. photographs, to POEY, F., 1851. Memorias sobre la historia natural de la

Legon for help and facilities at the Havana Zoological isla de de sumarios latinos Cuba, acompanadas y Garden. extractos en francés, 1: 1-463, pis. 1-34 (Imprenta de

Barcina, Habana). RABB, G. B., 1959. Toxic salivary glands in the primitive REFERENCES insectivore Solenodon. Chicago Acad. Sci. nat. Hist.

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Received: 8 March 1983