Solenodon, << suh LEE nuh don, >> is a rare animal that looks like a long-nosed rat. The yellow-headed solenodon lives in Cuba, and the brown solenodon is found in Haiti. The solenodon lives in dens and hollow logs, and it comes out for food only at night. It scratches for insects with its long claws. The solenodon weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (1 kilogram) and grows about 2 feet (61 centimeters) long, including its stiff, scaly tail, which is 10 inches (25 centimeters) long. It has a long, pointed snout and short, coarse hair. The solenodon is a fierce animal. Its saliva is poisonous.
