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 dermopterans[?] 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; and Talpidae, moles.

• 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

Not to be confused with insectivores, not all of which belong to the Insectivora.