Insectivora

Insectivora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Insectivora
Families
Erinaceidae Soricidae Talpidae Solenodontidae

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.

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
  • 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.