ON THE HYOID AND LARYNX OF THE HISPANIOLAN SOLENODON, SOLENODON PARADOXUS BRANDT, 1833 (MAMMALIA, LIPOTYPHLA, SOLENODONTIDAE)

The skull of the Hispaniolan solenodon, Solenodon paradoxus Brandt, 1833, was described in detail by Wible (2008). Missing from that study, however, were original observations on the hyoid apparatus and ossified larynx, because appropriate specimens were not available. A specimen has come to light preserving four isolated hyoid and laryngeal bones, from rostral to caudal as situated in the living animal: the right stylohyal, the left epihyal, the hyoid (fused ceratohyals, basihyal, and thyrohyals), and the ossified thyroid cartilage. These elements are poorly known for most mammals. Consequently, the solenodon elements are described and illustrated, and preliminary comparisons with other lipotyphlans are made. Several features are unique to the solenodon among the studied lipotyphlans, including a ceratohyal oriented mediolaterally rather than craniocaudally and an epiglottic prominence on the rostrodorsal margin of the thyroid.