Order insectivora

1. Order Insectivora Synonymous to Order Eulipotphyla Divided into Order Erinaceomorpha + Order Soricomorpha ( hedgeHogs ) (moles, shrews, solenodons )

2. Insectivora Subsist on a diet of insects, worms, and other small invertebrates Relatively abundant in the past; represented today by a few survivors Moles, shrews, hedgehogs – represent examples of convergent feeding strategies -burrowers and diggers -hunt for insects living in soil and in organic matter that sits atop the soil

3. Insectivores vary greatly in appearance. They typically have a long snout, as evidenced by most moles, shrews, and solenodons . Some are covered in a mouse-like fur with a hairy, smooth tail, others are covered in spines and lack tails entirely.

4. Most insectivores have an excellent sense of smell, touch, and hearing, but have a poor sense of sight. They live in a wide variety of habitats, from streams to open meadows to deep underground.

5. P rimitive Traits of Insectivores

6. Flat-footed ( plantigrade ) stance

7. Five toes

8. Smooth cerebral hemispheres

9. Small sharp pointed teeth with incisors, canines, and premolars poorly differentiated

10. Primitive Internal Features Most insectivores lack a separate opening for the genitals and anus, and instead have a cloaca, which serves as the genital, urinary, and fecal system . Large embryonic allantois and yolk sac In some genera, testes are retained in the abdominal cavity

11. Hedgehog ( Erinaceomorpha )

12. Moles ( Soricomorpha )

13. Shrews ( Soricomorpha )

14. Solenodons ( Soricomorpha )