Afrosoricida

Order of mammals

Afrosoricida[1]

Temporal range: Eocene–Recent

PreꞒ

Lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Mammalia
Clade:  | Afroinsectivora
Order:  | Afrosoricida
Stanhope et al., 1998
Suborders

Chrysochloridea
Tenrecomorpha

The order Afrosoricida (a Latin-Greek compound name which means "looking like African shrews") contains the golden moles of Southern Africa, the otter shrews of equatorial Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar. These three families of small mammals have traditionally been considered to be a part of the order Insectivora, and were later included in Lipotyphla after Insectivora was abandoned as a wastebasket taxon, before Lipotyphla was also found to be polyphyletic.

## Contents

* 1 Naming
* 2 Biology
* 3 Phylogeny
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## Naming[edit]

Some biologists use Tenrecomorpha as the name for the tenrec-golden mole clade, but Gary Bronner and Paulina Jenkins argue that Afrosoricida is more appropriate, despite their misgivings about the similarity between the name "Afrosoricida" and the unrelated shrew subgenus Afrosorex.[1] However, Afrosorex Hutterer, 1986 is a synonym of Crocidura Wagler, 1832, eliminating any confusion.[2] Hedges discussed at length the problems with using Tenrecomorpha and other proposed names for this clade of mammals other than Afrosoricida.[3]

## Biology[edit]

As a rule, tenrecs and otter shrews tend to be small animals varying from 4 cm to 39 cm in length. There is no pronounced body type since they have evolved to take over the insect-eating niche in Madagascar. However, based on the niche occupied, they look like shrews, hedgehogs or miniature otters. Their coat can vary from smooth to spiny and the coloration of the fur is generally dirt brown. Most species are also nocturnal and have poor eyesight. However, their whiskers are rather sensitive and they can detect very minute vibrations in the ground to locate their prey.

## Phylogeny[edit]

See also: List of afrosoricids

Traditionally, these two families were grouped with the hedgehogs, shrews and moles in the Lipotyphla. However, there have always been minority opinions suggesting that Tenrecomorpha, or at least the golden moles, are not true lipotyphlans. These opinions are now supported by many genetic studies indicating an association between Tenrecomorpha and various other African mammals in the superorder Afrotheria.[4][5][6] Afrosoricids are sometimes considered part of the Afroinsectiphilia, a clade within Afrotheria.

Cladogram of living Afrosoricida[6][7]

|  |  | Chrysochloroidea  |  | (Chrysochloridae)  |  |  |

Eremitalpa granti

|

|  |  |  |  |

Kilimatalpa stuhlmanni

|

|  |  |

Chrysochloris asiatica

|

Cryptochloris wintoni

|  |  |  |  |

Chrysospalax trevelyani

|

Calcochloris obtusirostris

|  | Chlorotalpa |  |  |

C. duthieae

|

C. sclateri

Amblysomus |  |  |

A. hottentotus

|

|  |  |

A. marleyi

|

A. septentrionalis

|  |  |

A. arendsi

|

|  |  |

A. gunningi

|

A. julianae

Tenrecoidea  |  | Potamogalidae |  |  |  |  |

Micropotamogale lamottei

|

M. ruwenzorii

Potamogale velox

Tenrecidae |  | Tenrecinae |  |  |  |  |

Hemicentetes semispinosus

|

Tenrec ecaudatus

|  |  |

Echinops telfairi

|

Setifer setosus

Geogalinae |  |  |  |  |

Geogale aurita

|

Oryzorictes hova

Microgale |  |  |  |  |

M. talazaci

|

|  |  |

M. mergulus

|

|  |  |

M. brevicaudata

|

M. grandidieri

|  |  |

M. cowani

|

|  |  |

M. pusilla

|

|  |  |

M. longicaudata

|

|  |  |

M. principula

|

M. majori

* Infraclass Eutheria: placental mammals
* Superorder Afrotheria
* Clade Afroinsectiphilia
* Clade Afroinsectivora
* Order Afrosoricida
* Suborder Tenrecomorpha (otter shrews and tenrecs)
* Family Potamogalidae (otter shrews)
* Genus Micropotamogale
* Nimba otter shrew (Micropotamogale lamottei)
* Ruwenzori otter shrew (Micropotamogale ruwenzorii)
* Genus Potamogale
* Giant otter shrew (Potamogale velox)
* Family Tenrecidae (tenrecs)
* Subfamily Geogalinae (1 species)
* Genus Geogale
* Large-eared tenrec (Geogale aurita)
* Subfamily Oryzorictinae (24 species)
* Genus Microgale
* Short-tailed shrew tenrec (Microgale brevicaudata)
* Cowan's shrew tenrec (Microgale cowani)
* Drouhard's shrew tenrec (Microgale drouhardi)
* Dryad shrew tenrec (Microgale dryas)
* Pale shrew tenrec (Microgale fotsifotsy)
* Gracile shrew tenrec (Microgale gracilis)
* Naked-nosed shrew tenrec (Microgale gymnorhyncha)
* Jenkins's shrew tenrec (Microgale jenkinsae)
* Northern shrew tenrec (Microgale jobihely)
* Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec (Microgale longicaudata)
* Major's long-tailed tenrec (Microgale majori)
* Web-footed tenrec (Microgale mergulus)
* Montane shrew tenrec (Microgale monticola)
* Nasolo's shrew tenrec (Microgale nasoloi)
* Pygmy shrew tenrec (Microgale parvula)
* Greater long-tailed shrew tenrec (Microgale principula)
* Least shrew tenrec (Microgale pusilla)
* Shrew-toothed shrew tenrec (Microgale soricoides)
* Taiva shrew tenrec (Microgale taiva)
* Thomas's shrew tenrec (Microgale thomasi)
* Genus Nesogale
* Dobson's shrew tenrec (Nesogale dobsoni)
* Talazac's shrew tenrec (Nesogale talazaci)
* Genus Oryzorictes
* Mole-like rice tenrec (Oryzorictes hova)
* Four-toed rice tenrec (Oryzorictes tetradactylus)
* Subfamily Tenrecinae (5 species)
* Genus Echinops
* Lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
* Genus Hemicentetes
* Highland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes nigriceps)
* Lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus)
* Genus Setifer
* Greater hedgehog tenrec (Setifer setosus)
* Genus Tenrec
* Tailless tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus)
* Incertae familiae: Genus †Plesiorycteropus
* †Plesiorycteropus madagascariensis
* †Plesiorycteropus germainepetterae
* Suborder Chrysochloridea (golden moles)
* Family Chrysochloridae (golden moles)
* Subfamily Chrysochlorinae (11 species)
* Genus Carpitalpa
* Arends' golden mole (Carpitalpa arendsi)
* Genus Chlorotalpa
* Duthie's golden mole (Chlorotalpa duthieae)
* Sclater's golden mole (Chlorotalpa sclateri)
* Genus Chrysochloris
* Subgenus Chrysochloris
* Cape golden mole (Chrysochloris asiatica)
* Visagie's golden mole (Chrysochloris visagiei)
* Subgenus Kilimatalpa
* Stuhlmann's golden mole (Chrysochloris stuhlmanni)
* Genus Chrysospalax
* Giant golden mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani)
* Rough-haired golden mole (Chrysospalax villosus)
* Genus Cryptochloris
* De Winton's golden mole (Cryptochloris wintoni)
* Van Zyl's golden mole (Cryptochloris zyli)
* Genus Eremitalpa
* Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti)
* Subfamily Amblysominae (10 species)
* Genus Amblysomus
* Fynbos golden mole (Amblysomus corriae)
* Hottentot golden mole (Amblysomus hottentotus)
* Marley's golden mole (Amblysomus marleyi)
* Robust golden mole (Amblysomus robustus)
* Highveld golden mole (Amblysomus septentrionalis)
* Genus Calcochloris
* Subgenus Huetia
* Congo golden mole (Calcochloris leucorhinus)
* Subgenus Calcochloris
* Yellow golden mole (Calcochloris obtusirostris)
* Subgenus incertae sedis
* Somali golden mole (Calcochloris tytonis)
* Genus Neamblysomus
* Juliana's golden mole (Neamblysomus julianae)
* Gunning's golden mole (Neamblysomus gunningi)

## See also[edit]

* Pseudoungulata
* List of mammals of Madagascar

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 71–81. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. ^ Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Soricomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 224\. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
3. ^ Hedges, S. Blair (2011-05-05). "On the use of high-level taxonomic names". Zootaxa. 2867 (1): 67. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2867.1.5. ISSN 1175-5334.
4. ^ Stanhope, M.J.; Waddell, V.G.; Madsen, O.; de Jong, W.; Hedges, S.B.; Cleven, G.C.; Kao, D.; Springer, M.S. (1998). "Molecular evidence for multiple origins of Insectivora and for a new order of endemic African insectivore mammals". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 95 (17): 9967–9972. Bibcode:1998PNAS...95.9967S. doi:10.1073/pnas.95.17.9967. PMC 21445. PMID 9707584.
5. ^ Douady, C.J.; Douzery, E.J.P. (2003). "Molecular estimation of eulipotyphlan divergence times and the evolution of "Insectivora"". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 28 (2): 285–296. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00119-2. PMID 12878465.
6. ^ a b Everson, K. M.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. M.; Olson, L. E. (2016). "Multiple Loci and Complete Taxonomic Sampling Resolve the Phylogeny and Biogeographic History of Tenrecs (Mammalia: Tenrecidae) and Reveal Higher Speciation Rates in Madagascar's Humid Forests". Systematic Biology. 65 (5): 890–909. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syw034. PMID 27103169.
7. ^ Upham, Nathan S.; Esselstyn, Jacob A.; Jetz, Walter (2019). "Inferring the mammal tree: Species-level sets of phylogenies for questions in ecology, evolution and conservation". PLOS Biol. 17 (12): e3000494. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000494. PMC 6892540. PMID 31800571.

* v
* t
* e

Extant mammal orders

* Kingdom Animalia
* Phylum Chordata
* Subphylum Vertebrata
* (unranked) Amniota

Yinotheria|

| Australosphenida|

* Monotremata (Platypus and echidnas)

|

Theria|

| Metatheria
(Marsupial inclusive)|

| Ameridelphia|

* Paucituberculata (Shrew opossums)
* Didelphimorphia (Opossums)

|

Australidelphia|

* Microbiotheria (Monito del monte)
* Notoryctemorphia (Marsupial moles)
* Dasyuromorphia (Quolls and dunnarts)
* Peramelemorphia (Bilbies and bandicoots)
* Diprotodontia (Kangaroos and relatives)

Eutheria
(Placental inclusive)|

| Xenarthra|

* Cingulata (Armadillos)
* Pilosa (Anteaters and sloths)

|

Afrotheria|

* Afrosoricida (Tenrecs and golden moles)
* Macroscelidea (Elephant shrews)
* Tubulidentata (Aardvark)
* Hyracoidea (Hyraxes)
* Proboscidea (Elephants)
* Sirenia (Dugongs and manatees)

Boreoeutheria|

| Laurasiatheria|

* Eulipotyphla (Hedgehogs, shrews, moles and relatives)
* Chiroptera (Bats)
* Pholidota (Pangolins)
* Carnivora (Dogs, cats and relatives)
* Perissodactyla (Horses, rhinoceroses and tapirs)
* Artiodactyla (Pigs, camels, hippos, deer, buffalo, gazelles, giraffes, whales and dolphins)

|

Euarchontoglires|

* Rodentia (Rats, guinea pigs, squirrels, beavers, chinchillas, porcupines, capybaras and relatives)
* Lagomorpha (Rabbits, hares and pikas)
* Scandentia (Treeshrews)
* Dermoptera (Colugos)
* Primates (lorises, lemurs, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, humans)

* v
* t
* e

Extant Afrosoricida species

* Kingdom Animalia
* Phylum Chordata
* Class Mammalia
* Infraclass Eutheria
* Superorder Afrotheria

Suborder Tenrecomorpha

| Potamogalidae|

| Micropotamogale|

* Nimba otter shrew (M. lamottei)
* Ruwenzori otter shrew (M. ruwenzorii)

|

Potamogale|

* Giant otter shrew (P. velox)

Tenrecidae
(Tenrecs)|

| Geogalinae|

| Geogale|

* Large-eared tenrec (G. aurita)

|

Oryzorictinae|

| Microgale|

* Short-tailed shrew tenrec (M. brevicaudata)
* Cowan's shrew tenrec (M. cowani)
* Drouhard's shrew tenrec (M. drouhardi)
* Dryad shrew tenrec (M. dryas)
* Pale shrew tenrec (M. fotsifotsy)
* Gracile shrew tenrec (M. gracilis)
* Naked-nosed shrew tenrec (M. gymnorhyncha)
* Jenkins' shrew tenrec (M. jenkinsae)
* Northern shrew tenrec (M. jobihely)
* Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec (M. longicaudata)
* Major's long-tailed tenrec (M. majori)
* Web-footed tenrec (M. mergulus)
* Montane shrew tenrec (M. monticola)
* Nasolo's shrew tenrec (M. nasoloi)
* Pygmy shrew tenrec (M. parvula)
* Greater long-tailed shrew tenrec (M. principula)
* Least shrew tenrec (M. pusilla)
* Shrew-toothed shrew tenrec (M. soricoides)
* Taiva shrew tenrec (M. taiva)
* Thomas's shrew tenrec (M. thomasi)

|

Nesogale|

* Dobson's shrew tenrec (N. dobsoni)
* Talazac's shrew tenrec (N. talazaci)

Oryzorictes
(Rice tenrecs)|

* Mole-like rice tenrec (O. hova)
* Four-toed rice tenrec (O. tetradactylus)

Tenrecinae|

| Echinops|

* Lesser hedgehog tenrec (E. telfairi)

|

Hemicentetes|

* Highland streaked tenrec (H. nigriceps)
* Lowland streaked tenrec (H. semispinosus)

Setifer|

* Greater hedgehog tenrec (S. setosus)

Tenrec|

* Tailless tenrec (T. ecaudatus)

Suborder Chrysochloridea (golden moles)

| Chrysochlorinae|

| Carpitalpa|

* Arends's golden mole (C. arendsi)

|

Chlorotalpa|

* Duthie's golden mole (C. duthieae)
* Sclater's golden mole (C. sclateri)

Chrysochloris|

| Subgenus Chrysochloris:|

* Cape golden mole (C. asiatica)
* Visagie's golden mole (C. visagiei)

|

Subgenus Kilimatalpa:|

* Stuhlmann's golden mole (C. stuhlmanni)

Chrysospalax|

* Giant golden mole (C. trevelyani)
* Rough-haired golden mole (C. villosus)

Cryptochloris|

* De Winton's golden mole (C. wintoni)
* Van Zyl's golden mole (C. zyli)

Eremitalpa|

* Grant's golden mole (E. granti)

Amblysominae|

| Amblysomus|

* Fynbos golden mole (A. corriae)
* Hottentot golden mole (A. hottentotus)
* Marley's golden mole (A. marleyi)
* Robust golden mole (A. robustus)
* Highveld golden mole (A. septentrionalis)

|

Calcochloris|

| Subgenus Huetia:|

* Congo golden mole (C. leucorhinus)

|

Subgenus Calcochloris:|

* Yellow golden mole (C. obtusirostris)

Subgenus incertae sedis:|

* Somali golden mole (C. tytonis)

Neamblysomus|

* Gunning's golden mole (N. gunningi)
* Juliana's golden mole (N. julianae)

Taxon identifiers|

* Wikidata: Q328082
* Wikispecies: Afrosoricida
* ADW: Afrosoricida
* BOLD: 109440
* CoL: N5
* EoL: 7689
* EPPO: 1AFRSO
* Fossilworks: 98042
* GBIF: 828
* iNaturalist: 42434
* IRMNG: 12923
* ITIS: 709660
* MSW: 11100001

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