St. Michel nesophontes


The St. Michel nesophontes is an extinct species of mammal in the family Nesophontidae. It was endemic to Hispaniola.

Taxonomy

A phylogenetic study in 2016, based on DNA extracted and carbon-dated from a specimen about 750 years old, suggests their nearest relatives are the solenodons, although the two groups diverged more than 40 million years ago.

History

The type specimen was collected in Cueva de Bosque Humido, Los Haitises National Park, Hato Mayor Province, Dominican Republic.