ABSTRACT
— Solenodon is an endangered genus of insectivoran containing two extant species restricted to two islands of the West Indies. To date, no genetic markers are available to aid in the conservation management of these endangered species. Thus, we provide variable mitochondrial markers in the 5′ end of the control region to be used in the conservation management of S. paradoxus from Hispaniola. Three individuals were sequenced and all clones (n = 3) sequenced for each individual were identical, indicating an absence of heteroplasmy. Sequence lengths of 424 bp were examined for each of the three individuals. Six variable positions in the sequences defined three haplotypes with a nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.953%. The nucleotide diversity is high relative to other endangered species or populations that are protected. The observed level of nucleotide diversity may have resulted from the inclusion of material from specimens that are either geographically or reproductively isolated. Control region R1 repeat structure was compared with patterns reported for other Insectivora. Solenodon was unique in showing only one repeat and a possible second imperfect repeat.
