Rare Cuban

This one comes from our friends over at Zooillogix (I recommend checking out their site, people!). You're looking at a creature thought to be extinct. The Cuban Solenodon is a rare Cuban indeed. Only 36 have ever been captured in over 140 years. Let's see ... that works out to about, hmm ... an average of ... not many at all.

Though very rare, this mammal (which resembles a shrew, but is more closely related to the Tenrecidae of Madagascar) keeps out of sight by being a nocturnal burrower. It's usually for the best when rare animals maintain a low profilet: they're less likely to be wiped out.

Thanks for the photo, Andrew. I'm going to cancel my vacation to Havannah now. The US State Department will be so disappointed.