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What the sources say

Hispaniolan SolenodonSolenodon paradoxus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Hispaniolan Solenodon profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 77 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Solenodon paradoxus. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysForests, brushy woodland, and agricultural mosaics on the island of Hispaniola, sheltering by day in burrows, hollow logs, and caves
The source sayscan be found in wooded and brushy areasNote: stats.habitat, part 1
The page saysForests, brushy woodland, and agricultural mosaics on the island of Hispaniola, sheltering by day in burrows, hollow logs, and caves
The source saysBecause solenodons are nocturnal they find shelter during the day in tunnel systems that they construct by burrowing through organic material and soil.Note: stats.habitat, part 3
The page saysForests, brushy woodland, and agricultural mosaics on the island of Hispaniola, sheltering by day in burrows, hollow logs, and caves
The source saysThey also take refuge in hollowed logs and trees, caves, and cracks in rocks.Note: stats.habitat, part 4
The page saysForests, brushy woodland, and agricultural mosaics on the island of Hispaniola, sheltering by day in burrows, hollow logs, and caves
The source saysSolenodon paradoxus can be found exclusively on the island of HispaniolaNote: stats.habitat, part 5
The page saysMillipedes, ground beetles, crickets, earthworms, and snails, plus amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally nestling and ground-dwelling birds
The source saysFoods eaten include: millipedes (Iulides), ground beetles (Carabidae), various orthopteran insects (Gryllidae, Tettigoniidae, Blattidae), earthworms (Lumbricidae) and various types of snails.Note: stats.diet, invertebrate half; 'crickets' glosses the orthopterans (Gryllidae are crickets)
The page saysLikely the largest living venomous land mammal, delivering venom through a grooved second lower incisor; lab tests suggest it lowers blood pressure.
The source saysThe second lower incisor has a groove from which a venom is secreted from a mandibular gland.Note: superpower, part 2
The page saysThe Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) looks much like a shrew, but a considerably larger one, with a long, cartilaginous snout.
The source saysSolenodon paradoxus looks much like a shrew. However, it is considerably larger.
The page saysThe Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) looks much like a shrew, but a considerably larger one, with a long, cartilaginous snout.
The source saysthe os proboscis, a bone (which supports a long cartilaginous snout) located on the tip of the rostrum
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web puts the species at 28 to 33 centimetres long and 600 grams to a full kilogram
The source saysRange mass 600 to 1000 g
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web puts the species at 28 to 33 centimetres long and 600 grams to a full kilogram
The source saysRange length 0.28 to 0.33 mNote: 0.28-0.33 m = 28-33 cm
The page saysA solenodon makes venom in glands beneath its lower jaw and delivers it through an enlarged, grooved second lower incisor.
The source saysThe second lower incisor has a groove from which a venom is secreted from a mandibular gland.
The page saysThey forage by digging tunnel systems under the ground and searching the surrounding soil for insects and other invertebrates.
The source saysSolenodon paradoxus collects food by digging extensive tunnel systems under the ground, then foraging for insects and other invertebrates from the surrounding soil.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web lists their foods as millipedes, ground beetles, crickets and other orthopteran insects, earthworms and snails.
The source saysFoods eaten include: millipedes (Iulides), ground beetles (Carabidae), various orthopteran insects (Gryllidae, Tettigoniidae, Blattidae), earthworms (Lumbricidae) and various types of snails.
The page saysClumsy, Social, and Still Surviving
The source saysa "clumsy runner with no agility in avoiding enemies and a poor means of defense"Note: heading, part 1
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web describes it as a slow mover and a clumsy runner with no agility in avoiding enemies and a poor means of defense.
The source saysSolenodon paradoxus is described as a "slow mover" and a "clumsy runner with no agility in avoiding enemies and a poor means of defense"
The page saysIt lacks any truly natural predators and has few anti-predator adaptations, but mongooses, cats and dogs, introduced to the island after European colonization, now prey on it.
The source saysto this day, it lacks any truly natural predators and does not possess many anti-predator adaptations
The page saysIt lacks any truly natural predators and has few anti-predator adaptations, but mongooses, cats and dogs, introduced to the island after European colonization, now prey on it.
The source saysBefore the European colonization of Hispanolia, which has resulted in the introduction of several predators of solenodons the island
The page saysIt lacks any truly natural predators and has few anti-predator adaptations, but mongooses, cats and dogs, introduced to the island after European colonization, now prey on it.
The source saysKnown Predators mongooses (Herpestes) domestic cats (Felis silvestris) domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

Solenodon paradoxus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysAnAge records one captive animal estimated to be 12.1 years old when it died
The source saysOne specimen was estimated to be 12.1 years old when it died in captivityNote: AnAge is newer than ADW's 11 years 4 months (Nowak 1999)

Source
03

Kennerley, Turvey & Young 2020

Kennerley, Turvey & Young (2020). Solenodon paradoxus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T20321A22327218.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). Solenodon paradoxus Brandt, 1833, IUCN taxon 20321.Note: stats.conservationStatus; GBIF's copy of the Red List
The page saysClumsy, Social, and Still Surviving
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). Solenodon paradoxus Brandt, 1833, IUCN taxon 20321.Note: heading, part 3 (the species survives and is assessed Least Concern)
The page saysThe IUCN's current assessment, from 2015, rates it Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). Solenodon paradoxus Brandt, 1833, IUCN taxon 20321.Note: assessment year 2015 per the prefetch (Kennerley, Turvey & Young 2015; DOI is the 2020 amended version)

Source
04

Casewell et al. 2019

Casewell et al. (2019). Solenodon genome reveals convergent evolution of venom in eulipotyphlan mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysAn ancient island insectivore whose venom, lab tests suggest, lowers blood pressure but fails to paralyse invertebrates.
The source saysThese results suggest that solenodon venom exerts a hypotensive effect.Note: tagline, part 1 (hedge kept as 'lab tests suggest')
The page saysAn ancient island insectivore whose venom, lab tests suggest, lowers blood pressure but fails to paralyse invertebrates.
The source saysAll animals survived 24 h after the intrathoracic injection of venom (up to 50 µg/g and 100 µg/g, respectively) with no signs of immobilization or incapacitationNote: tagline, part 2; the animals are locusts and centipedes
The page saysAn ancient island insectivore whose venom, lab tests suggest, lowers blood pressure but fails to paralyse invertebrates.
The source saysmolecular and fossil evidence suggests that they diverged from all other mammals over 70 million years ago (MYA)Note: tagline, part 3 ('ancient' = the lineage's age)
The page saysMillipedes, ground beetles, crickets, earthworms, and snails, plus amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally nestling and ground-dwelling birds
The source saysamphibians, reptiles, and occasionally nestlings and ground-dwelling birdsNote: stats.diet, vertebrate half; 'occasionally' kept on the birds only, as in the source
The page saysLikely the largest living venomous land mammal, delivering venom through a grooved second lower incisor; lab tests suggest it lowers blood pressure.
The source saysthese enigmatic animals likely being the largest extant venomous terrestrial mammalsNote: superpower, part 1; 'living' = extant, 'land' = terrestrial
The page saysLikely the largest living venomous land mammal, delivering venom through a grooved second lower incisor; lab tests suggest it lowers blood pressure.
The source saysThese results suggest that solenodon venom exerts a hypotensive effect.Note: superpower, part 3
The page saysLikely the Largest Venomous Land Mammal
The source saysthese enigmatic animals likely being the largest extant venomous terrestrial mammalsNote: heading
The page saysA 2019 genome study called solenodons likely the largest living venomous land mammals.
The source saysthese enigmatic animals likely being the largest extant venomous terrestrial mammalsNote: 2019 is the reference's publication year
The page saysMolecular and fossil evidence suggests the solenodon lineage split from all other mammals more than 70 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous.
The source saysmolecular and fossil evidence suggests that they diverged from all other mammals over 70 million years ago (MYA)
The page saysMolecular and fossil evidence suggests the solenodon lineage split from all other mammals more than 70 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous.
The source saysmultiple groups of shrews, the solenodons, and possibly other eulipotyphlans have each evolved venom independently following their divergence during the Late Cretaceous PeriodNote: the solenodon-shrew split is the same event: 'solenodons and shrews, which diverged from one another over 70 MYA'
The page saysVenom is rare among mammals: it is restricted to four living orders, the monotremes (such as the platypus), bats, primates, and eulipotyphlans
The source saysMammalian venom systems are rare and, based on the definition above, are restricted to members of 4 extant orders: the monotremes, chiropterans, primates, and eulipotyphlansNote: chiropterans = bats
The page saysthe monotremes (such as the platypus)
The source saysmale–male combat to facilitate breeding (platypus; Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
The page saysthe group of shrews, hedgehogs, moles and solenodons
The source sayseulipotyphlan mammals (shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and solenodons)Note: eulipotyphlans glossed; the paper also discusses hedgehogs and moles as eulipotyphlans
The page saysA Venom That Seems to Lower Blood Pressure
The source saysThese results suggest that solenodon venom exerts a hypotensive effect.Note: heading; 'seems to' keeps 'suggest'
The page saysA solenodon makes venom in glands beneath its lower jaw and delivers it through an enlarged, grooved second lower incisor.
The source saysAll of the extant venomous eulipotyphlans produce venom in submaxillary glandsNote: submaxillary = beneath the lower jaw
The page saysA solenodon makes venom in glands beneath its lower jaw and delivers it through an enlarged, grooved second lower incisor.
The source saysits enlarged tubular lower second incisor used for venom delivery
The page saysWhen researchers analysed venom from two wild males
The source saysVenom was collected from 2 wild male adult Hispaniolan solenodons
The page sayskallikrein serine proteases were its most numerous and abundant proteins
The source sayskallikrein serine proteases as the most numerous and abundant proteins found in the venom
The page saystheir tests suggest the venom has a hypotensive effect, lowering blood pressure
The source saysThese results suggest that solenodon venom exerts a hypotensive effect.
The page saysInjected into anesthetized rats at 1 milligram per kilogram, it caused a transient drop in mean arterial pressure, peaking at 22 percent below baseline.
The source sayssolenodon venom (1 mg/kg; n = 5) caused a marked depressor effect on the mean arterial pressure of anesthetized rats, consisting of a transient depressor response and resulting in a maximal decrease of 22% (±6%) from baseline readings
The page saysAt up to 50 µg/mL, the venom had no effect on human muscle-type or locust acetylcholine receptors, which venoms commonly target to cause paralysis.
The source saysSolenodon venom exhibited no activity on either human muscle type or locust nAChRs at concentrations up to 50 µg/mLNote: blockquote part 1
The page saysAt up to 50 µg/mL, the venom had no effect on human muscle-type or locust acetylcholine receptors, which venoms commonly target to cause paralysis.
The source saysboth of which are ion channels commonly targeted by venoms to cause immobilization via neuromuscular paralysisNote: blockquote part 1
The page saysIt subtly inhibited mammalian sodium channels, yet locusts and centipedes injected with it showed no sign of immobilization.
The source saysbut did display subtle, but significant, inhibitory activity at mammalian voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs)Note: blockquote part 2
The page saysIt subtly inhibited mammalian sodium channels, yet locusts and centipedes injected with it showed no sign of immobilization.
The source saysthis was not apparent in in vivo toxicity studies using locusts (Schistocerca gregaria, n = 4) and centipedes (Ethmostigmus rubripes, n = 5)Note: blockquote part 2
The page saysIt subtly inhibited mammalian sodium channels, yet locusts and centipedes injected with it showed no sign of immobilization.
The source sayswith no signs of immobilization or incapacitationNote: blockquote part 2
The page saysThe researchers concluded the venom is unlikely to paralyse invertebrates for storage, unlike that of Blarina shrews.
The source sayswe conclude from these data that solenodon venom is unlikely to function to paralyze invertebrates for prey storage, unlike that of Blarina shrews
The page saysThey judged it most likely evolved for catching prey, in parallel with venomous shrews
The source saysIt appears most likely that the solenodon venom system evolved for capturing prey, in a manner analogous to, and in parallel with, venomous shrews
The page sayssuggested it may first have evolved for vertebrate prey and now be partly a relic, after many of the region's native vertebrates went extinct
The source saysit is also possible that the solenodon venom system initially evolved for capturing vertebrate prey, and is now at least partly relictual due to the extinction of considerable amounts of regionally endemic vertebrate biodiversity
The page saysSolenodons are nocturnal.
The source saysSolenodons are relatively large (∼1 kg) nocturnal eulipotyphlans
The page saysIn 64 droppings collected in the Dominican Republic, DNA tests found vertebrate prey in 12.3 percent.
The source sayswe assessed their dietary composition using a vertebrate DNA barcoding approach on 64 fecal samples collected during the dry and rainy seasons in Pedernales Province, Dominican Republic
The page saysIn 64 droppings collected in the Dominican Republic, DNA tests found vertebrate prey in 12.3 percent.
The source saysOur conservative “frequency of occurrence” approach detected evidence of vertebrate prey in 12.3% of the fecal samples analyzed
The page saysSolenodons feed predominately on invertebrates, but this fits natural history reports of them eating amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally nestlings and ground-dwelling birds.
The source sayswhile solenodons feed predominately on invertebrates ( 54 ), vertebrate prey make up a considerable proportion of their diet. These findings are in line with a number of natural history reports describing solenodons feeding on amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally nestlings and ground-dwelling birds
The page saysClumsy, Social, and Still Surviving
The source sayssolenodons are relatively social animalsNote: heading, part 2
The page saysSolenodons are relatively social: both living species live in family groups of adults, subadults and young.
The source sayssolenodons are relatively social animals; both species live in family groups comprising adults, subadults, and youngNote: both species = S. paradoxus and A. cubana, the two extant solenodons
The page saysApparently not, at least for the invertebrates tested. Locusts and centipedes injected with solenodon venom all survived 24 hours with no signs of immobilization or incapacitation, so the researchers concluded it is unlikely to paralyse invertebrates for storage.
The source saysAll animals survived 24 h after the intrathoracic injection of venom (up to 50 µg/g and 100 µg/g, respectively) with no signs of immobilization or incapacitationNote: FAQ 1
The page saysso the researchers concluded it is unlikely to paralyse invertebrates for storage
The source sayswe conclude from these data that solenodon venom is unlikely to function to paralyze invertebrates for prey storageNote: FAQ 1
The page saysIn anesthetized rats, the venom instead caused a transient fall in blood pressure.
The source sayscaused a marked depressor effect on the mean arterial pressure of anesthetized rats, consisting of a transient depressor responseNote: FAQ 1
The page saysVery old, by the evidence a 2019 genome study cites: solenodons likely diverged from all other mammals over 70 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous.
The source saysmolecular and fossil evidence suggests that they diverged from all other mammals over 70 million years ago (MYA)Note: FAQ 2; the paper cites ref 19 for this, so the page says 'cites'; 'likely' keeps 'suggests'; 'Very old' is the answer this sentence supports
The page saysVery old, by the evidence a 2019 genome study cites: solenodons likely diverged from all other mammals over 70 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous.
The source saysfollowing their divergence during the Late Cretaceous PeriodNote: FAQ 2
The page saysThe same study found convincing evidence that solenodons and shrews evolved their venom independently.
The source saysanalyses provide convincing evidence that the oral venom systems of solenodons and shrews have evolved convergentlyNote: FAQ 2
The page saysThe Paralysis Test
The source saysto test for the potential presence of neurotoxic venom activity, we assessed the activity of solenodon venom on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and voltage gated sodium channelsNote: blockquote lead-in, a label for the test described

Source
05

Mychajliw et al. 2022

Mychajliw et al. (2022). Stable isotopes reveal seasonal dietary responses to agroforestry in a venomous mammal, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus). Ecology and Evolution.

The page saysAn ancient island insectivore whose venom, lab tests suggest, lowers blood pressure but fails to paralyse invertebrates.
The source sayssolenodons, as generalist insectivoresNote: tagline, part 4 (insectivore)
The page saysForests, brushy woodland, and agricultural mosaics on the island of Hispaniola, sheltering by day in burrows, hollow logs, and caves
The source saysoccupies a mosaic landscape of agriculture and forest fragments in the western Dominican RepublicNote: stats.habitat, part 2
The page saysA 2022 study of droppings from pasture and agroforestry sites in the western Dominican Republic suggests these generalist insectivores find prey across different kinds of vegetation and can persist in agroforestry land outside protected areas.
The source saysUsing feces collected in both wet and dry seasons, we found significant differences in the stable isotope values of carbon (δ 13 C) between pasture (−24.63 ± 2.31‰, Las Mercedes) and agroforestry (−28.07 ± 2.10‰, Mencia)
The page saysA 2022 study of droppings from pasture and agroforestry sites in the western Dominican Republic suggests these generalist insectivores find prey across different kinds of vegetation and can persist in agroforestry land outside protected areas.
The source saysoccupies a mosaic landscape of agriculture and forest fragments in the western Dominican Republic
The page saysA 2022 study of droppings from pasture and agroforestry sites in the western Dominican Republic suggests these generalist insectivores find prey across different kinds of vegetation and can persist in agroforestry land outside protected areas.
The source sayssolenodons, as generalist insectivores, can find suitable insects and other prey items (e.g., millipedes, snails, and spiders) in different vegetation contexts, suggesting that they can persist in agroforestry spaces outside of protected areas based on their ecology aloneNote: 2022 is the reference's publication year

Source
06

Turvey, Meredith & Scofield 2008

Turvey, Meredith & Scofield (2008). Continued survival of Hispaniolan solenodon Solenodon paradoxus in Haiti. Oryx.

The page saysThe 2007 IUCN Red List rated the species Endangered
The source saysis currently categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2007)Note: dated: the 2007 listing, superseded by the current Least Concern assessment
The page saysearlier studies had predicted its likely extinction in Haiti by the start of the 21st century
The source saysPrevious studies have been pessimistic about the probability of even short-term survival of this relict population, predicting its likely extinction by the start of the 21st centuryNote: 'this relict population' is the Haitian one
The page saysIn April 2007, local people brought researchers the remains of three dead solenodons, confirming it survived there.
The source sayscontinued survival of the species in Haiti was confirmed when the remains of three dead solenodons were brought to us in Duchity over 23–25 April 2007 as a result of local interest in our survey
The page saysIts survival there was in doubt.
The source saysPrevious studies have been pessimistic about the probability of even short-term survival of this relict populationNote: FAQ 3
The page saysEarlier studies had predicted its likely extinction in Haiti by the start of the 21st century
The source sayspredicting its likely extinction by the start of the 21st centuryNote: FAQ 3
The page saysthere had been no targeted mammal conservation research in the country for almost two decades
The source saysGiven the lack of any targeted mammal conservation research in Haiti for almost 2 decadesNote: FAQ 3
The page saysA 2007 survey changed that
The source saysWe carried out an 11-day survey to investigate the status of Hispaniolan solenodons in the Duchity region of the Massif de la Hotte in April 2007Note: FAQ 3
The page sayssign surveys, interviews with villagers and farmers, and three dead solenodons confirmed it still survived in the Duchity region of the Massif de la Hotte, apparently across a wider area than previously recognized
The source saysnew surveys (sign surveys and interviews with villagers and subsistence farmers) and the discovery of three dead solenodons confirm the continued survival of the species in the Duchity region, apparently across a greater geographic area than previously recognizedNote: FAQ 3
The page saysin the Duchity region of the Massif de la Hotte
The source sayshas only been recorded from the Duchity region of the Massif de la Hotte in recent decadesNote: FAQ 3

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.