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Insectivores

Mammaculture

Pensacola Jr College

Classification

w Class Mammalia

w Subclass Theria

w Infraclass Eutheria

w Order Insectivora

w Order Scandentia (tree shrews)

Order Insectivora

w Family Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)

w Family Talpidae (moles)

w Family Tenrecidae (tenrecs)

w Family Soricidae (shrews)

w Family Macroscelididae (elephant shrews)

Order Insectivora

w Insectivorous

w Teeth with sharp cusps, large incisors, small canines

w Olfactory bulbs pronounced

w Usually small eyes

w Several bones of ears reduced or absent

Family Erinaceidae

Erinaceidae

w Range: Europe, Africa, Asia

w Physical characteristics:

• long snout, large eyes, pinnae

• spines with strong muscles

• 5 digits per foot

• vestigial tail

• 3/4 to 3 pounds

• abdominal testes in males

Erinaceidae (cont’d)

w Omnivorous, mostly insects

w Wide habitat range

w Some are heterothermic

w Solitary

w lifespan 6-8 years in wild

w self-annointing behavior

w 2-12 young, wean at 5-14 weeks, can breed early

Common Gymnure

European Hedgehog

African Pygmy Hedgehog

Family Talpidae

Talpidae

w Range: N America, Europe, Asia

w Physical characteristics:

• mouse-sized

• long slender snout, tiny eyes

• no ear pinnae

• forelimbs rotated w/ long claws

• vibrissae and sensory tail hairs

Talpidae (cont’d)

w Insectivorous

w Fossorial (a few aquatic)

w Soil above burrows in ridges, deposits at entrance (“mole hills”)

w no hibernation or estivation

Eastern Mole

Star-nosed Mole

Iberian Desman

Molehill

Family Tenrecidae

Tenrecidae

w Range: Africa, Madagascar

w Physical characteristics:

• mouse to rabbit sized

• long slender snout, small eyes

• have ear pinnae

• no tail

• coarse fur and thin spines

• cloaca present

w Occasional torpor

Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec

11 day tenrec pups

Family Soricidae

Soricidae

w Range: N America, Europe, Asia, Africa

w Physical characteristics:

• smallest mammals (under 6oz)

• long narrow snout, small eyes

• ear pinnae present

• five digits per foot

Soricidae (cont’d)

w Very high metabolic rate, no hibernation/estivation

w some species venomous (for paralysis of prey)

w insectivores

w very common but rarely seen

Common Shrew

Water Shrew

Pygmy white-toothed shrew

Family Macroscelididae

Macroscelididae

w Range: Africa

w Physical characteristics:

• mouse to rat sized

• large eyes and ears

• long prehensile snout

• long slender limbs and tail

• 4-5 digits per foot

Macroscelididae (cont’d)

w Specialized for rapid bounding (predator escape)

w Habitat: plains and forests

w Bear 1-2 well-developed young that can run and jump almost immediately, weaned in a few DAYS

Round-eared elephant shrew

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

Newborn elephant shrew

ORDER Scandentia

Order Scandentia

w Range: India and SE Asia

w Combined appearance of:

• Insectivore (snout)

• Squirrel (body form)

• Primate (grasping feet)

w Complex cerebral folding

w Arboreal, diurnal

w Monogamous, 1-4 young

Common Tree Shrew