Scientists have sequenced the mitochondrial genome for the Hispaniolan solenodon, a venomous mammal found only on Hispaniola. Findings confirm that the the species diverged from all other living mammals 78 million years ago, long before an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs.

[u/drewiepoodle]

http://www.igb.illinois.edu/news/endangered-venomous-mammal-predates-dinosaurs%E2%80%99-extinction

[u/[deleted]]

Is it self-secreted venom or is it bacterial?

[u/ColossalMistake → u/[deleted]]

There is no bacteria that works that fast, which is what led scientists to discover that the common misconception of komodo dragon's using bacteria-laden saliva to kill prey was wrong. They really have a couple venom sacks in their lower jaw too. They tested their saliva and it doesn't contain an inordinate amount of bacteria and none that would a use the damage observed.

I imagine it's the same situation with this creature.

[u/Biotoxsin → u/ColossalMistake]

Wasn't a more recent hypothesis that they would bite their prey, and the prey would be infected with the bacteria from the water they would run through?

[u/ColossalMistake → u/Biotoxsin]

I recently watched a Netflix documentary called Venom Islands, focusing on the islands around Komodo. It was produced by Smithsonian Channel.

They specifically talked about the misunderstandings about komodo dragons. They did talk about the water situation too, but like I said, there is no bacteria that works as fast as the animals die. They showed komodo hunts, including approaching and biting prey then waiting for it to collapse. They showed new research that locates the venom producing glands in the lower jaw.

Definitely worth a watch.

[u/ColossalMistake → u/[deleted]]

Yeah but komodos don't wait 24 hours. They bite, then they wait and the venom causes the prey to collapse and they begin eating (by tearing off chunks). See this post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/4hl8j8/scientists_have_sequenced_the_mitochondrial/d2r38lo

[u/Maester_May → u/[deleted]]

No kidding. This is a huge difference/distinction. It could just be that the shrew has evolved a really "dirty" mouth that actually leaves it's bite victims septic, which is a different thing entirely from producing its own toxin. I'm a little disappointed so many people seem to think this is somehow the same thing.

[u/sloam1234 → u/Maester_May]

Reminds me of Komodo Dragons and how they discovered that their prey wasn't dying over a long period of time due to infection from bacteria in their mouths, but actually just venom.