Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, SOLENODON PARADOXUS, ALLEN 1910

/IDemoirs of tbe /IDuseum of Comparative Eoologv

AT HARVARD COLLEGE.
Vol. XL.

No.

1.

SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

GLOVER

M. ALLEN.

With Nine Plates.

CAMBRIDGE,
lPrinte&

for

tbe

U.

S.

A.:

/Duseum.

June, 1910.



Memoirs

of tbe /IDuseum of

AT

Comparative Zooloos

HARVARD COLLEGE.
Vol. XL.

No.

I.

SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

GLOVER

M. ALLEN.

With Nine Plates.

CAMBRIDGE,
Iprtnte5

for

tbe

U.

S.

A.:

Museum.

June, 1910.



CONTENTS
Page

INTRODUCTION
HISTORY
HABITS

5

.

....

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE

5
7

S

Color

10

External measurements

12

Cranl\l measurements

14

superficial body muscles
musclp:s of head and neck

muscles of
muscles of
MUSCLES OF
MUSCLES OF
OS1T.OLOGY

the
the

THE
THE

trunk
FORE LIMB
HIND LIMB
TAIL

14

15
19

21

25
.32

33

.

VISCERAL ANATOMY

.

Digestive system

43
43

Glands

40

Mesenteries

47

Lungs

Heart and

48
its

vessels

Excretory and genital organs

BRAIN
PLEXUSES

48
48

....
....

49

LITERATURE
EXPLANATION OF PLATES

54

SUMMARY

50
51



SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

INTRODUCTION.
The Museum has

recently been fortunate in securing from San Domingo,

a series of specimens of the rare Solcnodon paradoxus Brandt.

Four

of these

were brought ahve, and were successfully photographed by Mr. George Nelson.
The more interesting of the photographs were reproduced with the Annual

Report of the Curator

of the general

for

anatomy

For the loan of
States National

its

The present paper is a comjiarative account
the species, made possible by this fresh material.

1907 08.
of

specimens of Solcnodon cuhanus thanks are due the United

Museum.

HISTORY.
The

brief history of this species

now

well

known.

was

It

originally

Brandt from a skin and an imperfect skull, in the
Petersburg Academy, fmm Haiti. This specimen was subsequently studied

described in 1833 by
St.

is

J. F.

by Peters in connection witli the Cuban species, described by him in 1864.
Leche states that he too, made use of this skull and other fragments of the
skeleton,

when

Insectivora.

the text
species,

who

it

in 1907 he ])ublished his extensive j^aper

The exact nature
appears that a

of the other fragments

jx'lvis

not stated but from

with the sacral vertebrae labeled as of this

was among the material studied.

These bones were figured by Leche

called attention to the remarkable characters

with those of other Insectivora.

is

on the teeth of the

shown by them

There can be no doubt, as

will

in

comparison

be shown

later,

that the pelvic and sacral bones figured are not those of Solcnodon.

the labors of Peters and Dobson, the
well

known more than twenty

anatomy

of

Through
Solcnodon cubanus was fairly

years ago, but no additional specimens of S.
5

SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

6

paradoxus wore discovered until 1907, when A. Hyatt Verrill secured an adult
male, an adult female, and a young individual still retaining its milk dentition.

Of these specimens. Dr. J. A. Allen (:08) has given a brief account. The skulls
and dentition are well figured by him and critical comparison is made with
skulls of S. cubanus.

mens was too poor
by

The preservation

few facts he was able to glean as to

these animals in San Domingo.
fill

A

to admit of fiu'ther detailed study, however.

Verrill (:07) recounts the

partially to

of the skin antl soft parts of the speci-

The

])resent

account

will, it is

l)rief

tlie

pa])er

habils of

hoped, serve

the hiatus existing in our knowledge of the general

anatomy

of

the species.

Specimens of the Cuban Solenodon, were made known l)y Poey in 1834,
through a communication to a Havana paper, "El plantel." Later, in 1851,
he gave a more detailed notice of the animal, with a colored plate, in his "Mem-

Cuba."

Poey obtained specimens
from the mountainous regions east of Bayamo, Cuba, where the animal was
This author reviews at some length the early accounts
said to be well known.
orias sobre la historia natural de la isla de

Cuban animals, and after an exhaustive search, fails to find any
evidence that it was known to the early historians of the country. Since he
was unable to attach to it any of the native names of animals mentioned by
of the native

these writers, he proposed to call

it

the Almiqui, a

name

derived from that of

department of Cuba near where his specimens were taken. He supposed the Cuban animal to be conspecific with that
Gundlach subsequently obtained examples from
of Haiti and San Domingo.
one of the mountains

in the eastern

the Sierra Maestra, but

Ramon

de

la Sagra's

statement that

region of Trinidad, Cuba, Poey takes pains to show,
latter's

is

it

occurs in the

based solely on the

note in "El plantel" concerning vague rejwrts of an animal in that

region whose identity could not be certainly establislietl.

According to A. H.

Verrill (:07, p. 56), the natives of

San Domingo have

various names for Solenodon paradoxus, as Orso (bear), Hormigero (ant-eater),

Juron

(ferret) "also applied to the

mongoose," and Milqui.

In his

mammals of Middle America and the West Indies Elliot gives
name " Agouta," whose origin I have been unable to discover.

it

list

of the

a vernacular


HABITS.

HABITS.
Of the habits
According to

of this species in

Verrill's ( :07)

account

holes in the coral limestone rocks

leaves

its

retreat

and comes forth

a wild state very Uttle

definitely

known.

it is

"nocturnal, and spends the day in caves,

and

in hollow trees

to feed, "rooting in

grounds, tearing rotten logs and trees to pieces with

its

At night it
the earth and cultivated
and

On

logs."

powerful front claws, and

feeding on ants, grubs, insects, vegetables, reptiles, and

proving destructive to poultry.

is

several occasions

it

and at times

fruit,

known

has been

to

enter the houses in search of roaches and other vermin, and has been captured

Mr. Verrill's wasli drawing shows the animal with

in rat-traps."

around at the side of the body, and

Museum

of Natural History

for tiie tail

is,

In

tail

itself

its

;xs

Tlie tip alone

its

movements
is

are almost

held straight out

slightly elevated at the tip to permit

seems capable of

serves very effectively as a support

then throws

Such a posture
stiffness admits of but

living animals the tail

tlie

somewhat depressed, but

clear the ground.

the American

in

prepared in a similar manner.

and the muscle masses actuating

wholly dorsal and ventral.
behind,

mounted specimen

liowever, proliably never assumed,

slight lateral flexure,

The

is

tlie

when

slight lateral

the animal

is

back, with the soles of the hind feet resting their

In feeding, the animals walk clumsily about with a

and there at the objects that come

stiff

it

to

movement.
eating.
full

on the ground, and the powerful tail acting as a third leg of a tripod.
position one or both of the fore feet can be lifted from the ground.

sniffing here

bent

tail

It

length

In this

wadtlling gait,

The

in their path.

toes only

are in contact with the ground as they walk, while the metatarsals are quite
clear.

They

eat greedily of chopped meat, and will take lettuce as well

by

Meat they give considerable mastication, opening the jaws
widely as they chew. That they are capable of very quick movements, in
spite of their apparent clumsiness, is seen when two or three are eating together

way

of variety.

and disagree

as to the possession of

some morsel

of food.

If

rob another, like a flash the possessor of the dainty throws

away from

one attempts to
its

body around

Often one

the pursuer and continues chewing greedily.

will seize

companion by the snout, and if wickedly inclined can bite severely. Usually,
however, they seem peaceful enough. Rarely a shrill cry is uttered, as Mr.
its

George Nelson

At other

They

tells

me, who has heard

it

while tending the captive specimens.

times, they constantly give an explosive sniff as

are mainly active at night or in the late afternoon,

if

clearing the nose.

and seem to dig over


SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

8

and under every movable article in the cage. They have a prunounced odur,
not disagreeable, and reminding one slightly of that of a goat or a porcupine,
j^et

characteristically different.
Verrill states that a female in his possession

One

which, however, she promptly devoured.
ing to the

Museum

was found.

still

The

closed.

to clothe the body.
of

mammae

the

first

If

young

in captivity, but in this

must have

others were born, they too

This young one when jirobably a day or so old had the eyes

been devoured.

and ears

of the females in the lot belong-

likewise brought forth her

case h)ut a single one

gave birth to three young,

to appear, although not sufficiently

was beginning

hair

was a female (Plate

It

well developed.

upper and the two

It

l,

fig.

and had the

1)

lived but three days, at the end

single pair

which time

of

lower incisors were erupted, but the eyes and

first

the ears were as yet unopened.

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.
In general form Solenodon

head and a stout

The

tail.

is

shrew-like, with a long tapering snout, elongate

feet

and limbs are not notably modified, though

The

the fore claws are greatly developed.

beyond the nasal bones

is

is

the snout

a striking peculiarity, shared, however, to some

extent by the African genera Macroscelides and Rhjiichocyon.
in Solenodon paradoxus

of

great development

cartilaginous,

and

This proboscis

consists of a long tube, quadrangular

and deeper than wide. The nasal septum divides the
cavity of the proboscis and is continued into the nasal chamber; a projecting
ridge on each side of the septum, partly divides tlie lumen of the proboscis into a

in section (Plate

dorsal

2)

5, fig.

and a ventral tube.

At

its

proximal end the proboscis

ported by a small round bone, the os proboscidis, and laterally

by connective

held in place

tissue.

cartilage

The

ti])

of the snout has a

naked

i-liinariiun

about a centi-

whose posterior border is ill defined dorsally just posbut below it is sharply marked off from the surrounding

meter

in length ventrally

tei'ior

to the nostrils,

haired surfaces by a slight groove.
of the

A

median

snout which here

incisors to the

tijj

open

and are somewhat crescentiform.

laterally

vontrally sup-

it is

on each side from the upper free edges of the
These cartilages are loosely bound to th(> sides of the jiroboscis

by a short triangular
premaxillaries.

is

is

groo\'e runs

from the upper

slightly cmarginate.

The

The

nostrils

sides of the snout are

supplied with about a dozen large vibrissae, the longest of which measure about

65

mm.

There are

in addition shorter hairs

from swollen bases, that are coarser


EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.

9

than those surrounding and are doubtless tactile. A single vibrissa 25
long is present on the midline of the chin below the angle of the mouth.
or three long coarse hairs are also found

The ear
margin

is

is

and nearly rountl

large,

A

straight.

midway between

A

notch halfway on the posterior border.

antitragus of other

is

marked

smaller lobe

The whole appears

at tlie base of this larger lobe.

On

mammals.

the eye and the ear.

though the anterior

in general outline,

large posterior basal lobe

internal

its

mm.
Two

off

by a conspicuous

similarly indicated

is

to be comparal)le with the

surface

is

a rounded ridge.

This and the more ectal portion of the antitragus are thinly covered by hair.

The

tragus, at the base of the antero-internal bortler of the ear,

A

indicated marginal prominence.
just

prominent metatragus

below ami anterior to the center of the

is

is

a barely

well developed,

It consists of a large roundetl

ear.

lobe anteriorly with a short small ridge-like projection just posterior and parallel

to

axis,

These two prominences are placed slightly obUquely to the vertical
From the notch separating postero-dorsally the antiinclined forward.
it.

tragal lobe, a prominent ridge

is

developed, with a somewhat crescentiform

outline, the concavity ventral, projecting

There

the ear.

on each

is

ear, directly

inward nearly a third the diameter of

above

the posterior rim of the conch, a low round papilla.
slightly

and about 3 mm. from

this ridge

The border

of the ear is

emarginate above this papilla, a result possibly of injury, since the two

notches are not of exactly the same appearance in the two ears.
half of both inner

The

appressed hairs.

The body

and outer surfaces

of the conch

ear of S. cubanus

is

is

distal

sprinkled with minute

slightly larger.

round and stout, the limbs heavy and muscular.

is

The

present no remarkable modifications, but the claws of

tlie

The

latter

anterior digits are

greatly developed, apparently for scratching the surface rather than for liurrow-

In the

ing in the earth.

Cuban Solenodon they

slender, although the animal itself

and hind

feet are subeciual.

The hind

foot

is

tail is

relatively,

than

smaller.

The innermost
method

The
digit

of a very generalized type,

suited to the semi-plantigrade

The

is

are absolutely longer and

is

more

three middle digits of fore
in

each case the shortest.

and with long metatarsal bones

of walking.

long and stout in S. paradoxus, though rather more slender,
in S. cvharvus.

In both

it is

covered at the base by dense hairs,

and very short, wliich extend forward to the posterior part of the rumj),
where the long hairs abruptly stop. The tail is covered with very small scales,
fine

between which are scattered minute
about 36 scales

hairs.

in a single transverse row.

Near the base

of the tail there are


SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

10

The mammae

two

are

inguinal, situated far apart,

number and

position of the

Centetes with

its

number

in

on a

both species, inguinal, or even post-

in

line just anterior to the genital opening.

The

mammae are thus remarkably different from those in

twelve pairs extending from the axillae to the groins.

Potamo-

gale, however, has but a single inguinal pair.

The

hair

body

general

is

long and coarse dorsally, becoming finer and

On

on the sides and venter.

slightly crinkled

distinguishable: (1) the

abundant shorter and

The

these, (2) single coarse hairs.

some

developed, averaging some
in similar oblicjue rows.

5

mm.

\^'ith a

of the hair, are seen to be ar-

in the dried skin of

Solenodon paradoxus three days old (Plate

1, fig.

in length,

hand

others are scattered between the rows.

It

In a

young

these coarse hairs are well

1),

close intervals

more abundant

They

be at least three between each two of the large

about 5 nmi.

and scattered at

lens the

be seen at the bases of these larger ones.

and scattered among
have larger follicles and

finer hairs,

appear to

latter

these, in a skin of S. cubanus that has lost

ranged in oblicjue rows, at intervals

the back two sorts of hairs are

finer hairs

are very minute

may

and seem

to

bristles in a transverse row, while

seems not unlikely that the coarse

spiny hairs present mainl}^ in a longitudinal row on each side in the young

homologous with these

of Centetes are

The

Solenodon.

bristles in

echinate development of the corresponding hairs in Centetes

is

further

seen in the adult

that has scattered spine-like hairs over the dorsal area mingled with the

abundant

finer hairs of the general bcjdy surface.

a spiny dorsal covering such as

is

and

The rhinarium

are naked,

tail

is

further development of

present in Erinaceus, would seem to be thus

The statement

foreshadowed in these two genera.
legs, snout,

The

more

and that the rump

is

of

bare,

Verrill
is

(:07) that the

not strictly correct.

quite hairless, as are also the soles of the feet, but the rest of

the snout, legs, and
hairs spring from

rump

are covered with minute hair,

between the scales of the

Color. — In the

series of skins at

and small appressed

tail.

hand there

is

great variation in the extent

and intensity of the colors, and this appears to be independent of sex. The
commonest type (Plate 3) has the dorsal surface of the head from the base of

The

the snout to the ears and nape, black.

About the eye the long

basal half of the hairs

hairs are reflexed in a sort of rosette,

thus form an encircling light-colored area.
the mid-dorsal area of the liack to the

The black-tipped

rump and

median

line,

pale buff.

their pale bases

hairs extend over

are everpvhcre intermingled

with pale, nearly buff-colored hairs, that give thus a grizzled
Ventro-laterally from the

and

is

effect to the

dorsum.

the black hairs decrease in number, while


H

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.

the buff hairs become more numerous, so that on the sides of the l)ody and on
the forearm they produce a clear buff or cream buff. This color of the sides

extends ventrally from the abdominal region to the upper part of the chest
where it passes into a deep ferruginous, almost chestnut, over the ventral surface
of the throat,

The

neck.

upper chest,

liases of the fore

inguinal region also

distal portion of the

is

limbs and dorsally to the sides of the

ferruginous.

The

short hairs of the feet

snout are of the same buffy color as

tiie

and

venter, with a

admixture of ferruginous hairs around the mouth. A whitish nuchal
spot, about 15 by 10 nmi. in extent, is present in all but one of the specimens,
slight

and seems
is

spot

to be a characteristic of the species.

due to the

meet

failure to

of the

two

The presence

lateral

of a white nuchal

pigment areas whose centers

are on the sides of the neck, as has been elsewhere indicated

condition of partial

by the writer. The
albinism thus produced has here become fairly permanent,

A similar restriction of the

so as to result in a definite pattern.

dermal pigment

of the tail has taken place, so that a varj-ing length, usually nearly the chstal half,
is

white.

Variations from the type of coloration above described occur through an
increase or a decrease in the intensity of the pigment.

maximum of increase in

the black of the dorsum.

and extends to the elbows on each
buffy hairs
area

is

hairs,

is

side, while

One female shows a

This color

is

deep on the head

on the back the admixture of

very slight until well down on the sides of the body the clear buff

The white nuchal spot

reached.

hardly noticeable.

inguinal region from

tiljia

The opposite extreme
dilute, not only

exists in this

specimen as a few scattered

lower surface of the forearm and the

Ventrally

tlie

to tibia

suffused with ferruginous.

is

is

shown by another female

on the dorsal area as a whole, but

in

which the black

is

so

in the separate hairs, that it

appears as a cUstinct brownish, nearly drab of Ridgway's Nomenclature of colors,
grizzled with buff hairs.
sides

The

latter

become

slightly tinged with rufous

on the

and venter.

The ferruginous
and apparently

tint (Plate 2)

old females

and

is

exceptionally well developed in two large

in a third smaller animal,

an adult male.

In

the brighter of the two old females the buffy hairs of the back and sides of the

head and body and on all but the mid-ventral region are replaced by ferruginous,
even the nuchal spot being of this tint. The ventral portion of the chest and
the lower throat where the ferruginous is brightest in other specimens, have in

example become so intensified that they are nearly black. The third bright
specimen above mentioned is the most brilliant. The dark throat area is nearly
this


SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

12

maroon shading

into deep ferruginous on the sides of tlie neclv, while posteriorly

the sides of the body and the venter are orange-rufous,

somewhat more

nous on the lower surface of the arms and on the inguinal region.
spot in this specimen

A

is

bright buff.

very young female (Plate

The

adults.

ferrugi-

The nuchal

l, fig.

2)

is

much

paler in color than

dorsal area lias a general tone of brocolli

dilute pigmentation of the black hairs

are here of a light cream buff.

ventral region becoming

lower throat and chest.

brown due

and the paleness

Tliis color also

of the

any

in part to the

of tlie bufTy hairs,

which

extends over the sides and mid-

more intense a buff on the inguinal region and on the
The ferruginous tints of the adult are quite absent at

this early age.

The long
Between
The black
area or

it

buffy or ferruginous, but sometimes black.

vil^rissae are usually

the various styles of coloration just described

of the dorsuju

may

may

all

gradations occur.

be so restricted as to cover but a narrow median

extend almost to the ventral l)order of the body.

Again

be so intermixed with buffy hairs that instead of showing clear black

it

it

may

ajjpears

The

as a uniformly grizzled drab, with all intermediate gradations of coloring.

color of the underparts in the youngest specimens varies from a uniform buff to

and ochraceous, but in the adults the buff is often confined to
the sides and abdomen and shades into ochraceous on the inguinal region and
into ferruginous on the chest and throat.
Others, however, have the inguinal
ochraceous-ljuff

area buff like the sides and abdomen.

Again, the ferruginous of the throat

extend ventrally upon the abdomen, reaching an extreme

in

Some have

female that has the entire belly and sides suffused with this color.
the abdojiiinal surface nearly clear drab.

All the

specimens show the white

nuchal patch except one or two highly colored adults in which this area
fused with the buff or the ferruginous of the sides and belly.
varies from a

narrow streak 6

mm.

witle antl 12

may

the case of an old

mm.

is

suf-

The white spot

long to a blotch about

20 by 25 nun.

The

great difference in color between S. paradoxus and S. cubanus has l)een

pointed out by Dr.
longer.
hairs.

J.

The dorsum

A. Allen.
is

In the

Cuban

species the pelage

is

more uniformly dark without the admixture

The uniform dark

color of the

back continues on to the

feet,

finer

and

of lighter

the thighs,

forearms and chest while the greater part of the head and part of the mitl-ventral
area are pale yellowish, or in alcoholic specimens nearly white.
External measurements.

— The

following measurements are of ten adults,

a young male, and a second younger animal, a female, but three days

old,

born in


EXTERNAL APPEARAN(T..
captivity.

All but the last were alcoholic specimens.

shortly after its death.

Measurements are

13

The

in millimeters.

la.st

was measured

SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

14

d"

Length

of claw of 2(1 digit (over curvature)

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

3il digit

claw of

(without claw)
digit (over curvature)
.

"

.

4th digit (without claw)
claw of 4th digit (over curvature)
"
5th digit (without claw)
.

.

"

.

"

.

3(1

.

.

.

.

.

.

claw of 5th digit (over curvature)


MUSCLES OF HEAD AND NECK.

A

strand of muscle from 2 to 5

flat

above the articulation of the 14th
60

mm.

to

become inserted

wide (Plate

4, fig. 1, e) arises

on each side and passes forward

into this great tendinous sheet

some 30 mm.

This appears to be the dorso-cuticulnris, and

to the axilla.

rower than

rib

mm.

15

in

Gymnura

is

for

from

about

posterior

apparently nar-

or Potamogale.

MUSCLES OF HEAD AND NECK.

of

Compared with Centetes, Gymnura, or Potamogale, the anterior muscles
the snout seem to show less complexity in Solenodon, but resemble more

nearly those of Myogale as figured by Dobson, whose specimen of Solenodon

cubanus was in too poor a state of preservation to permit of exact determination
of these muscles.

The

is

platysnia myoides

a

flat superficial

muscle, well developed and firmly

attached to the skin from the lambdoid crest forward along the sides of the face

and lower jaw.

The zygomaticus major

(Plate

5, fig. 1, 6) is

a relatively small muscle arising

from the bony ledge of the antorbital pit just above the last premolar. It
passes into a small round tendon at about the level of the anterior incisors, and
running just to one

sitle of

the midventral

the tip of the cartilaginous proboscis.
evidently

The

is

on the ventral portion of

to depress the snout, but it

line, inserts

Its action

is

of limited use, as the vertical play of the proboscis is not

levator labii superioris proprius (Plate 5,

fig.

1,

c)

is

very great.

a large muscle

attached along the entire anterior edge of the orbit from the ventral border of
the eye nearly to the dorsal
nasals where

the median

The

it

becomes a

It passes

line.

flat

forward as muscle to the tips of the

tendon and runs to the

tip of the proboscis

below

line.

levator labii s7ipcrioris el erector vibrissarum (Plate 6, fig. 1, a) originates

anteriorly to the orbit, between the

opening for the

facial nerve.

It

is

two nmscles just described and ectal to the
likewise more or less firmly attached to the

antero-lateral face of the maxillary where

it

breaks into numerous small thread-

tendons that pass to the bases of the vibrissae with which the snout is
These fibers are firmly united by investing tissue and muscular
well supi)lied.

like

strands to the side of the cartilaginous proboscis, to which they are undoubtedly
able to impart a slight

lateral

motion.

Ventrally this muscle

nected by tendinous tissue to the orbicularis
nerves.

oris.

is

closely con-

It is richly supplied

with


SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

1()

Temporalis (Plate
jxarietal crests.

mm.

40

Its

5,

is

1, e)

fig.

large,

main mass on the

long and 20

mm.

broad.

and

arises along the

median and

dorso-Iateral surface of the skull

It passes ventro-laterally to

is

about

a tendinous

jaw and on its ental aspect.

from the lateral surface of the

insertion at the tip of the coronoid process of the

A

small muscle (Plate

and

posterior zygomatic root

some 5 mju. wide,
for

it is

fig.

1,

d) arises

{masses dorsal to the

masseter as a narrow band

to its insertion along the exterior base of the coronoid process

a distance of about 8

siders in

5,

mm.

This seems to correspond to what Dobson con-

a second head of the temporalis.

Gymnura

In Solenotlon, however,

quite separate from the tempcjralis throughout.

Another muscle, corresponding to Dobson 's third head of the temporalis in
Gymnura, arises much as in that form from the inner dorsal margin of the posterior zygoma, and curving downwartl and forward, is broadlj' inserted as a flat
muscle

in the

The
zygoma

hollow of the exterior face of the coronoid process.

masseter originates along the posterior portion of the malar part of the

for a distance oi 7

mm., and

is

insei'ted

along the postero-ventral surface

of the ramus.

The

digastric muscles (Plate

lambdoid

inferior side of the
skull.

Each

of a small

as

it

5, fig.

1,/) are rather small, arising along the

crests about a centimeter from the vertex of the

passes forward, tapers to a tendinous insertion at the tip

bony process on the inner ventral margin

of the

mandible about 13

nun. anterior to the angle of the jaw.
Pterygoideus internus

is

a short thickish sheet of muscle arising externally to

the pterygoid on each side and inserting at the angle of the ramus.
Pterygoideus extei'nus

the sphenoid region.
lar

is

smaller,

It inserts

and

arises just externally to the last

from

on the lower jaw inside the neck of the mandibu-

condyle forward to the inferior dental foramen.

The mylo-hyoid
each ramus.

There

one from each

from the inner ventral margin of
well defined median raphe where the two elements,

arises as a thin sheet
is

a fairly

side, are united.

The

fibers stretch across

between the two rami,

and posteriorly to the insertion at the antero-ventral margin of the basi-hyal.
A deeper and a more superficial layer is with some difficulty to be distinguished
in this muscle.

The
arising

stylo-hyoid

is

from the ventral side of

to the digastric,

is

and conspicuous. It is a narrow band
the mastoid process, and passing superficially

well developed

inserted on the side of the thyroid bone of the larynx.

This muscle seems not to have been previously found in Solenodon.

It

is

said


MUSCLES OF HEAD A\D NECK.
by Dobson

to be

"very

feeble

"

in Centetes

Dobson's figure of the latter (Dobson,

;

but

in

]

Potamogale

'82- '90, pi. 9,

st.

same proportions as in Solenodon.
The sterno-hyoid is the most ventral of the muscles

h.)

is

7

well developed.

shows

this

muscle

in nearly the

fi'om the inner or dorsal side of the second

This muscle

is

divisible into

is

The sterno-hyoid

removed.

is
is

It arises

segment (mainly) of the sternum.

two elements, which, however, are so

in the mid-ventral line that the separation

ing tissue

of the throat.

closely united

not clearly defined until the invest-

broadly inserted into the ventral

surface of the thyrohyal cartilage.

The

sterno-thyroid of each side

hyoid, and arises just lateral to

smaller than the corresponding sterno-

is

it.

It passes

forward along the side of the

trachea to the thyroid cartilage, on to the side of which

it is

inserted

by two

short muscular branches.

The

crico-thyroid

is

represented by short muscles on each side, that pass

obliquely from the cricoid to the thyroid cartilage.

Beneath the mylo-hyoid on each
posteriorly, arise the genio-hyoids.

and

fill

side,

They

the space between the rami.

from the symphysis

for

are closely approximated

They

mm.

about 8

medially

are inserted on the ventral side of

the basi-thyrohyal.

The

genio-hyoglossus

is

as usual, a thin flat sheet of muscle, arising

from

the basihyals and radiating out anteriorly to the tongue.

The

trapezius muscles (Plate

4, fig.

1, a, c,

d) arise along the mid-dorsal

from the vertebral spines to the occipital crest at the posterior edge of the
skull, forming a broad thin sheet.
They insert along the spine of the scapula
beginning at about 15 mm. from its vertebral edge, forward for some 28 mm. A
line

slight break indicates the division

between the spino- and acromio-trapezius,

but the latter and the clavo-trapezius are not clearly separable.

The

supracervico-cidaneus (Plate

of the posterior half of the neck

4, fig. 1, b) arises

from the mid-dorsal

line

and passes ventrally to become confluent with

the broad tendinous sheet attached to the skin along the front edge of the fore
shoulder.

underneath the trapezius, by two heads. The first
consists of a single long l^and from the mid-dorsal portion of the neck from occiput
The second is a longer sheet from the last cervito about halfway on its length.

The rhomboideus

cals

and

first

arises

four or five dorsal spines.

.

A

is

inserted along the pos-

from just below the angle along the entire
similar partial division of this muscle was noted by Dobson

terior inner border of the scapula

vertebral margin

The muscle


SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

18
for

Solenodon cubanus, and the liomology of these two portions with the rhom-

boideus anticus and posticus respectively of

Gymnura and

Centetes

is

suggested.

In Potamogale Dobson found these muscles coalesced to form a single sheet.
The occipito-scapularis (Plate 5, fig. 4, h) arises along the lambdoid crest
for

about 10

mm.

lateral to the mid-dorsal line.

external face of the scapula about 6

where
is

mm. below

tlie

coraco-vertebral angle

broadly inserted along the verteljral edge of the scapula.

it is

about 80

The

back to the postero-

It passes

Its length

mm.

sterno-mastokleus (Plate

face of the presternum, where
It passes forward as a

5, fig. 4,

g) takes origin

from the ventral sur-

slightly overlapped l\v the ectopectoralis.

it is

muscular band to a tendinous insertion at the

lateral

extremity of the lambdoid crest just above the ear. This tendon, as in Centetes
and Gymnura is united with tlie tendon of the cleido-mastoideus as a common

The

insertion.

cleido-mastoideus (Plate

4, fig. 4, /()

takes origin from the antero-

external edge of the ventral half of the clavicle.

The
from the

levator claviculae (Plate 5, fig. 4, a)

atlas only near the

median

is

well developed

line at the antero-ventral

and takes

margin.

origin

It passes

back as a narrow band to a tendinous insertion on the ectal edge of the metacromion just back from

The

its tip.

as the fifth
splenius arises along the dorsal line from about as far back

dorsal vertebra.

Passing forward,

it

inserts along the mesial portion of the

from the vertex to just ental of the sterno-mastoid insertion.
or less
Anteriorly the portion arising from the first of the cervicals may be more
readily separated from the posterior part of the nmscular sheet.

lambdoid

crest

The complexus
fifth cervical to

A

lateral

arises

from the transverse processes

the sixth dorsal.

It

and a more median portion

of the vertebrae

from the

has the usual insertion under the splenius.

may

be distingiushed.

major arises from just below the top of the neural
the lambdoid crest,
spine of the axis and passes forward to its insertion beneath
in close union with the rectus capitis posticus minor whose origin is slightly

The

more

rectus capitis posticus

lateral.

The

obliquus capitis superior originates from the tip of the transverse process
forward to its insertion below tlie lambdoid crest at a
and

of the atlas,

point about 7

goes

mm.

lateral to the vertex of the occi])ut.

It

is

also united

by a

raphe to the ecto-proximal portion of the digastric muscle.
The obliquus capitis inferior is large and arises from the postero-lateral

slight

portion of the spine of the axis.

Its course is obliquely

side of the transverse process of the atlas.

forward to the posterior


MUSCLES OF THE TRUNK.
The

levator cuiguli scapulae takes origin

three Last cervical vertebrae and
tlie

is

from the transverse processes

of the

along the subscapular surface of

insertetl

scapula, internal to the rhomboideus, from the coraco-vertcbral angle to the

insertion of the serratus
this

is

19

muscle

is

united with serratus magnus.

same

practically the

levator

is

In Centetes as in

magnus.

slightly

Gymnura and Potamogale

In Myogale, however, the condition

as here described for Solenodon,

though

in the

former the

more developed.

MUSCLES OF THE TRUNK.
The

latissimus dorsi (Plate

4, fig.

/)

1,

a large superficial muscle, con-

is

sisting of a thin sheet of fibers covering the dorsal half of the
last rib

forward to about the ninth

brae as well.

Antero-laterally

antero-internal face of the

and just above
passes into the tendon
teres

few strong

Dobson
where

The

it is

from the spines of these vertebecomes a narrow tendon which inserts on the
rib.

It arises

humerus near

its

head, ental to the insertion of the

At the antero-ventral edge, just before the muscle
connected by a raphe with the epitrochlearis and by a

fibers to the ventral

edge of the

teres.

This peculiarity was noted by

Cuban Solenodon.

in the

it

it.

it

thorax from the

Along the ventral edge of the latissimus
covers the thorax, a branch from each of the dorsal nerves takes exit.

magnus has the usual general

serratus

of the thorax.

from the anterior portion

origin

Its posterior extension reaches the

ninth

rib.

The muscle

is

inserted along the posterior inner edge of the scapula at the gleno-vertebral angle.

The

oblicjue

muscles present no especial peculiarities.

The

ectobliquus

from the pubic symphysis on either side and passes upward and forward

on to about the lower half of the ribs to the ventral border of serratus magnus, and
the front of the ilium. The entobliquus has a strong tendinous origin from the
arises

anterior end of the ilium and along the pubis to the mitlventral line.
as a thin sheet antero-ventrally to the

The
ventral

rectus

fibers

line

and ventral border

of the ribs.

abdouunis originates as a partly tendinous thin sheet from the

thirtl of

sternum with

median

It passes

its

the

first rib.

It jiasses

back to unite just behind the

fellow of the opposite side,

on the anterior rim of the pubis

xijihi-

and the two are inserted by muscular

for a distance of

about 8 nun. each side of

the symphysis.

As

Gymnura, Centetes, and Potamogale there is a clavicular portion to
the ectopectorcdis. The sternal portion of this muscle takes origin along the
entire

in

median length

of the

sternum from the

tip of the

manubrium

to the base


SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

20
of the

expanded cartilaginous end

of the xiphisternuni.

they pass obhquely forward to the insertion, 16

median edge
and

is

6, fig. 4, c)

more or

less

5, fig.

from the antero-ventral margin
a thin

insertion.

4,/) arises just underneath the cctopectoralis,

second

of the

flat sheet,

anteriorly to a tendinous insertion 4

median

rib, posteriorly to

that becomes thicker as

mm.

At about the

correspond to the two divisions described

The subdavms

in

5, fig. 4,

from a tendon on the anterior side

is

d)

insertion of the

its

about 30

Dobson,

mm.

it is

long and 2

mm.

not present, but in

About 3 mm.

about 2

mm.

Gymnura

is

insertion of scalenus secundus or anticus.

The

rib,

The scalenus muscles appear thus
is

from those

of

from the transverse processes

last,

brachial plexus takes exit between the

differ

the large tendinous

by tendinous and muscular fibers.

in close juxtaposition to the ventral

Potamogale, and

is

from the transverse processes of
inserted on the thorax as far back as the

Scalenus 'primus arises dorsally to the

fourth

developed about as in Solenodon.

It arises

of all the cervical vertebrae except the atlas,

This muscle

In Centetes, according to

dorsal to the origin of subscapularis,

is

dorsal to the

a tendinous insertion on the ental aspect

or less in width.

the 3d, 4th, and 5th cervicals and

may be

a very narrow band of muscle arising

of the clavicle just proximal to its articulation with the acromion.
is

origin

distinct.

of the first rib, at

It passes antero-dorsally to

its

Centetes by Dobson, although in

somewhat more extensive and
(Plate

converge

These two parts evidently

said to consist of an anterior and a posterior i)ortion.

sternum.

its fibers

a slight division of this muscular sheet so that

that genus they are

the base of the

long at the head of the humerus, on

face, just ental to the bicipital groove.

fifth rib, there is

clavicular portion of this

confluent distally with the main mass of the cctopectoralis,

entopedoralis (Plate

last sternal rib as

converge as

originates from the ecto-posterior border of the clavicle

though practically distinct to the common

The

fibers

in length, along the antero-

The

middle third of the humerus.

of the

muscle (Plate

mm.

The

two

to be

border of serratus magnus.

scaleni.

much

like those of Centetes

Gynunn-a and Erinaceus

present, whereas in the last two, according to Dobson,

it is

and

in that the anticus

absent.


MUSCLES OF THE FORE LIMB.

21

MUSCLES OF THE FORE LIMB.
The

coracoidcus (Plate

by a

arises

6, fig. 5, c)

conspicnious tendon from the

The caput breve

ental face of the coracoid process.

inserted on the inner

is

mm. from its head; the caput longe
mm. wide expanding somewhat distally

mesial surface of the humerus at a jwint L3
passes as a tendinous
to

to 3

insertion on the i)ostero-internal portion of the

its

the epitrochlea.

don

band from 2

Dobson makes the

statement that

brief

very similar to that in Erinaceus

is

humerus

and Centetes.

In

just proximal to

muscle in Soleno-

this

Gymnura and Myogale

the muscle was not detected, while in Potamogale the caput longe was wanting.

The

subscapuhiris (Plate

5, fig. 5,

a)

is

strongly developed.

on the subscapular surface of the scapula, and
sets of fibers:

(1) a

st't

arises

is

attached

originating along the coraco-vertebral margin of the

scapula nearly to the coraco-vertebral angle;

margin of the

It

from three rather distinct

(2) fibers

from the vertebral

scajiula near the insertions of levator anguli scapulae

and serratus

magnus; (3) a l)undle of fibers arising along the glenoid margin of the scapula,
partly on the ental surface of the latter. Tendinous fibers from these three
divisions run forward as a large tendon to an insertion on the trochin of the

humerus vmderneath that

The

of the coracoideus.

from almost the entire supramost posterior portion, from the coraco-vertebral margin

large supraspinalus (Plate

spinous fossa except

its

5, fig. 6,

Q

is

margin of the mesoscajnila, becoming tendinous as
acromion to its insertion on the trochiter.
to the

The

spino-deltoidciis arises along the mesoscaj)ula

metacromion.

It passes

crista deltoidea of the

from just posterior to the

forward antl slightly inwaixl, to

humerus.

Here

it is

joined

passes under the

it

by the

insertion on the

its

(icroniiu-deltoideus

from

the infraspinous border of the acromion, a smaller, narrower muscle.

The

origin of tlie injhi>:pin

5,

fig.

6,

is

/()

undei'neath that of

spino-deltoideus, from the whole length of the infrasj)inous fossa, except at the

gleno-vertebral angle, where
teres.

Its

ment

it.

peculiar relations of the cpHwchlcaris (Plate

described by
doxus.

meets and partly unites by a raphe, with the

tendon inserts on the trochiter, adjacent to that of the supraspinatus,

but slightly distal to

The

it

Dobson

in Solenodon

5,

fig.

5, d)

cubanus and they are the same

have been
in S. para-

This muscle arises from a raphe about IS nmi. long, from the commenceof the tendinous jiortion of the latissinms dorsi.

this point

by a few

fibers

from the

teres.

The

insertion

It
is

is

also connected at

at the olecranon.


SOLENODON PARADOXUS.

22

The

"teres minor"

inicostalis (Plate B, fig. 6, a) or

a small muscle,

is

inti-

mately associated with the infraspinatus. Its origin is from the glenoid border
of the scapula, back about 11 mm. along the glenoid margin.
Its insertion is
by a very short tendon just chstal to the insertion of the infraspinatus on the
According to Dobson, this muscle

trocliiter.

and Potamogale.
in

It is present,

is

lacking in Centetes,

Gymnura,

however, in Erinaceus and largely develoi:)ed

Myogale.

The

meditriceps (Plate

5,

fig.

a large, prism-shaped muscle, from

6, h) is

nearly the anterior third of the glenoid margin of the scapula.

It tajiers distally

to a short tendon inserted on the olecranon.

The
mal

edotriceps (Plate

the crista deltoidea.

jiart of

breadth

t(3

insertion

its

from a sheet of tendon on the proxia flat muscle and gradually increases in

arises

6, fig. 6, c)

It

is

on the ectal face of the olecranon, anterior to that

the meditriceps, to whose tendons for the space of about a centimeter

it is

of

here

intimately connected.

The
The

entotriceps (Plate

5, fig.

6)

divisible into three fairly distinct jiarts.

is

seems comparable with the intermedia and the caudalis divisions as present in the cat.
In Solenodon these two divisions are not to be
differentiated, but arise as a single muscle from the posterior side of the humerus
first

of these

just distal to its head.

The

insertion

is

by tendon on the entero-dorsal

the olecranon as far as the sigmoid notch.

ogous with the division cephalica of the
side of the distal half of the

A

second division, probably homol-

cat, arises

humerus and

inserts

cranon, ental to the insertion of the ectotriceps.
ently the

same

as the division brevis,

and

fillers

from the

distal

extremity of the division cephalica.

in

along the postero-external

on the ectal aspect of the

The

is

ole-

thirtl division is ai)iiar-

consists of a short

l:)untlle

ectal surface of the epitrochlea to a tendinous

The condition

of

muscular

raphe near the

of the triceps

Solenodon seems to be much the same as that described by Dobson

nura, and one

side of

muscle

for

Gym-

led to infer that its relations are nearly identical in Centetes

and

Potamogale.

The

supinator

loncjxis is

Centetes, Potamogale,

The
meter

biceps arises

in length

process.

Its

and the Talpidae.

by a single head,

from the dorsal

main mass

into a tendon that
distal to the

li])

absent in Solenodon, as in Gymnura, Erinaceus,

is

is

lip of

as a strong

rounded tendon al)out a

centi-

the glenoid fossa and base of the coracoid

spindle-shaped and flattened.

Distally

it

])asses

inserted mainly on to the ecto-dorsal edge of the ulna, just

of the sigmoid notch;

a

slip of

tendinous tissue also connects


MUSCLES OF THE FORE LIMB.
it

with

tiie

pnjximal end of the rachus at the point where radius and uhia meet

at the artiouhition witli the Imnierus.

and practically that found
is

23

described.

in

Tliis is tlie condition likewise in Centetes,

dymnura, where, however, only the ulnar

insertion

In Dobson's specimen of Solenodon cubanus he found two heads

The second he

to this muscle.

"a long and very

describes as

slender tendon

from the coracoid process immediately above that of the coraco-brachialis."
This, he states, "becomes muscular low down, and unites with the belly of the
glenoid head about the

commencement

of the lower third of the

muscle thus formed terminates in a tendon which

is

humerus; the

mainly inserted into the

Possibly the double origin of the biceps in his specimen was an indi-

radius."

vidual anomaly, or the condition in the

Cuban

species

different

is

from that

obtaining in S. paradoxus.

The brachialis does not
It arises

from that of Gymnura and Centetes.
from the posterior side of the humerus I)et ween the two tuberosities
differ essentially

and along the ectal margin of the crista deltoidea
ligament and tlie inner dorsal edge of the radius.

The

extensorcs (cai-pi) radialis longior

brevior (Plate

et

separate muscles, but form a single rather

to insert into the capsular

fiat

5, b)

6, fig.

are not

muscle that originates from the

At about the beginning

antero-proximal portion of the epicondylar ridge.

of

the distal third of the radius this muscle becomes a thick tendon that passes
ental to that of the extensor ossis metacarpi pollicis,

that go to the bases

The
fibers

radius

communis (Plate

flat

the

by tendinous
Near the distal end of the

fig.

from the

5,

«) arises

cUgits 2 to 5.

Just distal to the origin of the
g)

two tendons

tendon that breaks directly into four small branches,

one each to the dorsal surface of

fig. 5,

6,

ectal point of the epicondylus.

passes into a

splits into

metacarpals 2 and 3 respectively.

extensor digitorum

from the
it

(jf

and

last, arises

the extensor minini digili (Plate

ectal edge of the epicondylus

communis and the extensor

and from tendinous

carpi ulnaris.

It passes into

that divides into two branches at the metacarpals.

The

fibers

6,

from

a strong tendon

ectal brancli passes

and the ental branch dips under the outermost diviinsert on the ecto-lateral face of the last phalanx of digit

to the dorsal side of digit 5

sion of the
4.

communis

This condition

The

is

to

essentially that in Centetes.

extensor carpi tdnaris (Plate

6, fig. 5, c)

arises just chstal to the origin

of the preceding, at the outer distal edge of the epicondylus

along the greater sigmoid notch.

At about 18 mm.

from

its

and from

insertion

it

fibers

becomes

a thick round tendon, passing to the ecto-proximal margin of metacarpal

5.