| Cuban solenodon[1] | |
|---|---|
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| Specimen at the Bronx Zoo, 1913 | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Solenodontidae |
| Genus: | Atopogale Cabrera, 1925 |
| Species: | A. cubana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Atopogale cubana (Peters, 1861)
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| Cuban solenodon range | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Cuban solenodon or almiquí (Atopogale cubana) is a small, furry, shrew-like mammal endemic to mountainous forests on Cuba. It is the only species in the genus Atopogale. An elusive animal, it lives in burrows and is only active at night when it uses its unusual toxic saliva to feed on insects. The solenodons (family Solenodontidae), native to the Caribbean, are one of only a few mammals that are venomous.
The Cuban solenodon is endangered and was once considered extinct due to its rarity. It and the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) are the only surviving solenodon species; the others are extinct.
- ^ Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Soricomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 222–223. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Kennerley, R.; Turvey, S.T. & Young, R. (2018). "Atopogale cubana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T20320A22327125. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T20320A22327125.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.