The solenodon is one of the very few mammals in the world that produces venom. Its saliva contains a toxic liquid that it delivers through grooves in its lower teeth when it bites insects or small prey. This makes it special among small furry animals.
It comes out mostly at night to snuffle through the leaf litter on the forest floor with that extraordinary long nose. The nose is so flexible it can bend in any direction, helping the solenodon feel vibrations in the soil to find grubs, worms and beetles hiding underground.
Solenodons move in a wobbly, clumsy-looking way that actually helps them change direction very quickly if something surprises them. Despite looking slow, they can sprint surprisingly fast over short distances.
Because Hispaniola is an island, the solenodon evolved in isolation for millions of years with almost no predators. That is why it survived so long with such an unusual body plan. Scientists are still learning new things about this remarkable creature.