solenodon

[ suh-lee-nuh-don, -len-uh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

either of two insectivores of the genus Solenodon, resembling a large shrew and having small eyes, a long and pointy snout, and a scaly tail, including the coarse-haired, reddish-brown to grayish-black S. paradoxus of Hispaniola and the finer-haired, usually darker S. cubanus of Cuba: S. paradoxus is an endangered species; S. cubanus is rare and possibly endangered.

solenodon

/ səˈlɛnədən /

either of two rare shrewlike nocturnal mammals of the Caribbean, Atopogale cubana ( Cuban solenodon ) or Solenodon paradoxus ( Haitian solenodon ), having a long hairless tail and an elongated snout: family Solenodontidae, order Insectivora (insectivores)

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First recorded in 1830–40; from New Latin, from Greek sōlḗn “channel, pipe, syringe” + -odōn “-toothed”; -odont

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C19: from New Latin, from Latin sōlēn sea mussel, razor-shell (from Greek: pipe) + Greek odōn tooth

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The occurrence of one aberrant group (Solenodon) in the West Indies is, however, noteworthy.

The other is a peculiar insectivore (Solenodon paradoxus), the only other representatives of whose family are found in Madagascar.

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