FILM footage of one of the world’s least-known and unusual mammals has been captured by staff from Durrell on a recent expedition to the Dominican Republic.

The Hispaniolan solenodon is a shrew-like creature with a long snout and specialised teeth capable of delivering venom. It represents the last of an ancient lineage of early mammals that lived near the end of the dinosaur age.

One was discovered by Dr Amy Hall, from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, who worked with the Ornithological Society of Hispaniola’s executive director, Jorge Brocca, and two field workers. They tested a range of monitoring techniques for the species to see how the status of the creature could be checked across the whole of the Dominican Republic.

They captured the male animal which provided them with a valuable DNA sample and important information on behaviour. And the team were able to film it before it was released back into the wild. Durrell’s director of conservation science Professor John Fa said that the study of the mammal was incredibly important.