Squonk!

[JoeP]

In the Dominican Republic, scientists have captured, studied and filmed the very rare Hispaniolan solenodon Solenodon paradoxus. This genus contains the only mammals that are venomous.

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Venomous mammal caught on camera





Wait ... that looks just like
CroppedSquonk2.jpg

They mention a wide range of threats to its environment ... but not the risk of dissolving in a pool of tears.

[Sock Puppet]

I'm gonna have that stuck in my head for the rest of the day, now. Meh, could be worse.



Like father like son
Not flesh nor fish nor bone
A red rag hangs from an open mouth.
Alive at both ends but a little dead in the middle,
A-tumbling and a-bumbling he will go.
All the King's horses and all the King's men
Could never put a smile on that face.

He's a sly one, he's a shy one
Wouldn't you be too.
Scared to be left all on his own.
Hasn't a, hasn't a friend to play with, the Ugly Duckling
The pressure on, the bubble will burst before our eyes.
All the while in perfect time
His tears are falling on the ground
BUT IF YOU DON'T STAND UP YOU DON'T STAND A CHANCE.

Go a little faster now, you might get there in time.

Mirror mirror on the wall,
His heart was broken long before he ever came to you.
Stop your tears from falling,
The trail they leave is very clear for all to see at night
all to see at night.

In season, out of season
What's the difference when you don't know the reason.
In one hand bread, the other a stone.
The Hunter enters the forest.
All are not huntsmen who can blow the huntsman's horn
By the look of this one you've not got much to fear.

Here I am, I'm very fierce and frightening
Come to match my skill to yours.
Now listen here, listen to me, don't you run away now
I am a friend, I'd really like to play with you.
Making noises my little furry friend would make
I'll trick him, then I'll kick him into my sack.
You better watch out... You better watch out.

I've got you, I've got you, you'll never get away.

Walking home that night
The sack across my back, the sound of sobbing on my shoulder.
When suddenly it stopped,
I opened up the sack, all that I had
A pool of bubbles and tears - JUST A POOL OF TEARS.

All in all you are a very dying race
Placing trust upon a cruel world.
You never had the things you thought you should have had
And you'll not get them now,
And all the while in perfect time
Your tears are falling on the ground.


The Squonk is of a very retiring disposition and due to its ugliness,
weeps constantly. It is easy prey for hunters who simply
follow a tear-stained trail. When cornered it will dissolve itself into tears.

True or False?

[The Lone Ranger]

For what it's worth, there are a few other mammal species that are venomous.

In particular, the platypus (Ornithorhyncus anatinus) is venomous, as are a number of shrew species.

What distinguishes the solenodons (genera Atopogale and Solenodon) is that they're the only known mammal species with teeth that are specialized like the fangs of snakes, through which they can inject venom into their prey.

The teeth of solenodons aren't hollow like true fangs though; they have grooves that channel venom (highly modified saliva) from their salivary glands and into the victim's flesh.

Cheers,

Michael

[Farren]

Its so cute with those funny legs and that ridiculous nose.

[trientalis]

I rather like that song actually.

Squonk from Trick of the Tail by Genesis

[Shelli]

If it's eyes get any smaller, they'll just disappear entirely.

[Ymir's blood]

Originally Posted by JoeP

In the Dominican Republic, scientists have captured, studied and filmed the very rare Hispaniolan solenodon Solenodon paradoxus. This genus contains the only mammals that are venomous.

TLR already covered what I was going to say, but also... don't forget about Ann Coulter.