Insectivora
\nThe biological
order Insectivora in the past was used as a scrapbasket for a variety of small to very small, relatively unspecialized, insectivorous mammals. The taxonomy has been refined in recent years, and tree shrews, elephant shrews, and colugos have now been placed in separate orders.
However, molecular evidence also indicates that golden moles and tenrecs should be separated as a new order
Afrosoricida comprising
Chrysochloridae (golden moles) and
Tenrecidae (tenrecs).
This leaves the Insectivora containing only the families
Soricidae, shrews;
Erinaceidae, hedgehogs and allies;
Talpidae,
moless; and
Solenodontidae, solenodons.
- ORDER INSECTIVORA\n** Family Erinaceidae\n*** Subfamily Erinaceinae: hedgehogs\n*** Subfamily Hylomyinae: moonrats and gymnures\n** Family Soricidae\n*** Subfamily Crocidurinae: white-toothed shrews\n*** Subfamily Soricinae: red-toothed shrews\n** Family Talpidae\n*** Subfamily Desmaninae: desmans\n*** Subfamily Talpinae: moless\n*** Subfamily Uropsilinae: Shrew Mole\n** Family Solenodontidae: solenodons
Not to be confused with
insectivores (the eaters of insects considered as an
ecological niche), not all of which belong to the Order Insectivora.\n
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