The living mammal that ran with the dinosaurs: DNA shows the endangered solenodon's ancestors lived 78 million years ago
- Researchers from Illinois collected samples of DNA from the creatures
- They used two methods to sequence the traces of mitochondrial DNA
- This can be used as a genetic record to make a family tree of animals
- The study revealed the mammal diverged from all other living mammals 78 million years ago, before the dinosaurs became extinct
The Hispaniolan solenodon is one of the only mammals in the world that can inject prey with a venomous bite.
Now experts have come one step closer to revealing how it got its potentially deadly weapon by sequencing the creature's mitochondrial genome.
The study, published in the journal Mitochondrial DNA, revealed the mammal diverged from all other living mammals 78 million years ago, before the dinosaurs became extinct.
The Hispaniolan solenodon (stock image) is one of the only mammals in the world and can inject prey with a venomous bite. Now experts have come one step closer to revealing how it got its potentially deadly weapon by sequencing the creature's mitochondrial genome
This may explain why the Hispaniolan solenodon, which is found on an island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is so unusual.
Its deadly saliva is secreted through a narrow groove in specialised teeth, making it one of the most evolutionary distinct creatures in the world.
Co-first author Adam Brandt at the University of Illinois,said: 'It's just impressive it's survived this long.
'It survived the asteroid; it survived human colonisation and the rats and mice humans brought with them that wiped out the solenodon's closest relatives.'
Researchers collected samples of DNA by lying on the ground and waiting for the strange mammals to clamber over them.
The study, published in the journal Mitochondrial DNA, revealed the mammal diverged from all other living mammals 78 million years ago, before the dinosaurs became extinct. Researchers collected samples of DNA by lying on the ground and waiting for the strange mammals to clamber over them (pictured)
The finding also supports the idea that the island was part of a volcanic arc connected to Mexico 75 million years ago that gradually moved eastward – perhaps explaining how the isolated animals came to live there and evolve. Dinosaurs are illustrated
They used two methods to sequence the traces of mitochondrial DNA collected, which can be used as a genetic record to make a family tree of animals.
It bolsters a previous study that used DNA to estimate solenodons diverged from mammals during the Cretaceous Period 76 million years ago.
The finding also supports the idea that the island was part of a volcanic arc connected to Mexico 75 million years ago that gradually moved eastward – perhaps explaining how the isolated animals came to live there and evolve.
Lead researcher Alfred Roca said: 'Whether they got on the island when the West Indies ran into Mexico 75 million years ago, or whether they floated over on driftwood or whatever else much later is not very clear.'
The solenodon is endangered and experts may redouble their efforts to save the animal seeing as it's the only remnant of an incredibly old group of animals.
It's threatened by dogs, cats, humans and habitat loss.
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