Afrosoricida

 Chrysochloridae

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Tenrecidae

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The order Afrosoricida (also known as Tenrecomorpha) contains two families of small mammals that are traditionally considered to be a part of the order Insectivora.

Related Topics:
Mammal - Order - Insectivora

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Traditionally, the golden moles of southern Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar and Africa were grouped with the hedgehogs, shrews and moles in the Lipotyphla. However there have always been opinions suggesting that Tenrecomorpha, or at least the golden moles, are not true Lipotyphlans. These opinions are supported by many genetic studies suggesting an association between Tenrecomorpha and various other African mammals in a proposed superorder known as Afrotheria. However there is no strong morphological evidence to link the Afrosoricida together with other Afrotherians, despite the number of genetic studies suggesting this relationship to be accurate.

Related Topics:
Golden mole - Africa - Tenrec - Madagascar - Hedgehog - Shrew - Afrotheria

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Genetic evidence supports an association between Tenrecomorpha and various other African mammals known as Afrotheria.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• INFRACLASS EUTHERIA: placental mammals
• Superorder Afrotheria (?)
• Order Afrosoricida
• Family Chrysochloridae: golden moles; about 30 species in 10 genera
• Family Tenrecidae: tenrecs and otter shrews; 24 species in about 10 genera
• Order Macroscelidea: elephant shrews
• Order Tubulidentata: Aardvark
• Order Hyracoidea: hyraxes
• Order Proboscidea: elephants
• Order Sirenia: manatees and dugongs
• (Other superorders, not listed here)