The Hispaniolan solenodon is a small, nocturnal mammal native to the island of Hispaniola, which includes the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It has a long, flexible snout and a body covered in coarse fur. This unique creature is one of the few surviving members of an ancient group of mammals called Eulipotyphla, which also includes shrews and moles. Solenodons are known for their distinctive venomous saliva, which they use to subdue prey such as insects and small vertebrates. They are primarily solitary animals and have a low reproductive rate, making them vulnerable to habitat loss and predation from introduced species like cats and dogs.