NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Insectivora

The 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. 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, moles; and Solenodontidae, solenodons.

ORDER INSECTIVORA
- Family Erinaceidae
  - Subfamily Erinaceinae: hedgehogs
  - Subfamily Hylomyinae: moonrats and gymnures
- Family Soricidae
  - Subfamily Crocidurinae: white-toothed shrews
  - Subfamily Soricinae: red-toothed shrews
- Family Talpidae
  - Subfamily Desmaninae: desmans
  - Subfamily Talpinae: moles
  - Subfamily Uropsilinae: Shrew Mole
- 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.

Mammals
Monotremata
Placentalia: Xenarthra \| Dermoptera \| Desmostylia \| Scandentia \| Primates \| Rodentia \| Lagomorpha \| Insectivora \| Chiroptera \| Pholidota \| Carnivora \| Perissodactyla \| Artiodactyla \| Cetacea \| Afrosoricida \| Macroscelidea \| Tubulidentata \| Hyracoidea \| Proboscidea \| Sirenia
Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia \| Paucituberculata \| Microbiotheria \| Dasyuromorphia \| Peramelemorphia \| Notoryctemorphia \| Diprotodontia

Categories: Mammals | Insectivora

Results from FactBites:

ANIMAL BYTES - Order Insectivora (170 words)
	The order Insectivora is rather hard to classify and much dispute has occurred over years as to how the order should be arranged.
	Among the mammals, the members of the Insectivora order are considered to be primitive in design and may provide a glimpse into the ancestral forms of many of the Recent mammals.
	It has long been thought that many species of Insectivora are gluttonous in their eating habits, but studies have shown that their diets are often lacking in nutritional value.

More results at FactBites »

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