"Lipotyphla Lipotyphla is a formerly used order of mammals, including the members of the order Eulipotyphla (i.e. the solenodons, family Solenodontidae; hedgehogs and gymnures, family Erinaceidae; desmans, moles, and shrew-like moles, family Talpidae; and true shrews, family Soricidae) as well as two other families of the former order Insectivora, Chrysochloridae (golden moles) and Tenrecidae (tenrecs). However, molecular studies found the golden moles and tenrecs to be unrelated to the others (these afrotherian groups were then put in their own order, Afrosoricida). This made Lypotyphla an invalid polyphyletic order and gave rise to the notion of Eulypotyphla instead, an exclusively laurasiatherian"
"Shrew The shrew (family Soricidae) is a small mole-like mammal classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, or the extinct West Indies shrews, which belong to different families or orders. Although its external appearance is generally that of a long-nosed mouse, a shrew is not a rodent, as mice are. It is in fact a much closer relative of hedgehogs and moles, and shrews are related to rodents only to the extent that both belong to the Boreoeutheria Magnorder – together with humans, monkeys, cats, dogs, horses, rhinos, cows,"
"shrews). In addition, the family contains the extinct subfamilies Limnoecinae, Crocidosoricinae, Allosoricinae and Heterosoricinae (although Heterosoricinae is also commonly considered a separate family). Shrew The shrew (family Soricidae) is a small mole-like mammal classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, or the extinct West Indies shrews, which belong to different families or orders. Although its external appearance is generally that of a long-nosed mouse, a shrew is not a rodent, as mice are. It is in fact a much closer relative of hedgehogs and moles, and shrews are related"
"slightly different name). Those species called ""shrew moles"" represent an intermediate form between the moles and their shrew ancestors, and as such may not be fully described by the article. On the other hand, there is no monophyletic relation between the mole and the hedgehog, both of which were previously placed in the now abandoned order Insectivora. As a result, Soricomorpha (""shrew-like animals"" including moles), previously within Insectivora, has been elevated to the level of an order. While many groups of burrowing animals (pink fairy armadillos, tuco-tucos, mole rats, mole crickets, and mole crabs) have developed close physical similarities with"
"Uropsilus The shrew moles (""Uropsilus"") are shrew-like members of the mole family of mammals endemic to the forested, high-alpine region bordering China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. They possess a long snout, a long slender tail, external ears, and small forefeet unspecialized for burrowing. Although they are similar to shrews in size, external appearance, and, presumably, ecological habits, they are nevertheless talpids and considered true moles, as they share a full zygomatic arch with all other moles, while this arch is completely absent in shrews. The genus is the only one of the Uropsilinae subfamily, which is one of the three main"
"subfamilies of the mole family of mammals, the other two being Talpinae, or Old World moles and relatives; and the Scalopinae, or New World moles. The genus contains five species: Although each species' official English common name still calls them ""shrew moles"", ""Uropsilus"" today are referred to as ""shrew-like moles"" to distinguish them from other shrew moles, ""Neurotrichus gibbsii"" of North America, and the Urotrichini, or Japanese shrew moles, both of which are morphologically quite different from ""Uropsilus"" and are grouped with the Old World Moles and relatives. As a result, the term ""shrew-like moles"" has been used to refer"
"Mole (animal) Moles are small mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle (i.e., fossorial). They have cylindrical bodies; velvety fur; very small, inconspicuous ears and eyes; reduced hindlimbs; and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws adapted for digging. The term ""mole"" is especially and most properly used for ""true moles"" of the Talpidae family in the order Eulipotyphla found in most parts of North America, Asia, and Europe; although it may also refer to other unrelated mammals of Australia and southern Africa which have similarly evolved the mole body plan. The term is not applied to all talpids; e.g. desmans and"
"are divided into two tribes, five genera, and seven species: Scalopinae The Scalopinae, or New World moles, are one of three subfamilies of the family Talpidae, which consists of moles and mole-like animals; the other two subfamilies being the Old World Talpids (the Talpinae) and the Chinese Shrew-like Moles (Uropsilinae). The Scalpidae are the only Talpidae subfamily to consist entirely of undisputed moles and no mole-like close relatives such as shrew-moles or desmans. They are found virtually everywhere soil conditions permit in North America, except northern Canada and those areas of northeastern Mexico where the soil isn't too sandy. There"
"to ""Uropsilus"", although specific species are still called ""shrew moles"". Although little is currently known regarding any aspect of their natural history, ""Uropsilus"" are thought to be the most ancestral group of moles, and as such, very similar to the primitive talpid from which all Talpidae have evolved. Uropsilus The shrew moles (""Uropsilus"") are shrew-like members of the mole family of mammals endemic to the forested, high-alpine region bordering China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. They possess a long snout, a long slender tail, external ears, and small forefeet unspecialized for burrowing. Although they are similar to shrews in size, external appearance,"
"Scalopinae The Scalopinae, or New World moles, are one of three subfamilies of the family Talpidae, which consists of moles and mole-like animals; the other two subfamilies being the Old World Talpids (the Talpinae) and the Chinese Shrew-like Moles (Uropsilinae). The Scalpidae are the only Talpidae subfamily to consist entirely of undisputed moles and no mole-like close relatives such as shrew-moles or desmans. They are found virtually everywhere soil conditions permit in North America, except northern Canada and those areas of northeastern Mexico where the soil isn't too sandy. There is also one species which lives in China. The Scalopininae"
"Mammal Mammals ( from Latin ""mamma"" ""breast"") are vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia, and characterized by the presence of mammary glands, which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young; a neocortex (a region of the brain); hair; and three middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptiles and birds, from which they diverged in the late Triassic. There are around 5,450 species of mammals. The largest orders are the rodents, bats and Soricomorpha (shrews and allies). The next three are the Primates (apes, monkeys, and allies), the Cetartiodactyla (whales and even-toed ungulates), and the Carnivora (cats,"
"Talpidae The family Talpidae includes the moles, shrew moles, desmans, and other intermediate forms of small insectivorous mammals of the order Eulipotyphla. Talpids are all digging animals to various degrees: moles are completely subterranean animals; shrew moles and shrew-like moles somewhat less so; and desmans, while basically aquatic, excavate dry sleeping chambers; whilst the quite unique star-nosed mole is equally adept in the water and underground. Talpids are found across the Northern Hemisphere and southern Asia, Europe, and North America, although none are found in Ireland nor in the Americas south of northern Mexico. The first talpids evolved from shrew-like"
"Surdisorex Surdisorex is a genus of mammals in the family Soricidae. ""Surdisorex"" is one of three genera of African shrews, which, in turn, are one of three living subfamilies of shrews. Species in the genus ""Surdisorex"" are called African mole shrews because of their similarity to moles, to which they are not closely related. The genus ""Surdisorex"" represents Kenya’s only endemic genus of mammal. Prior to the description of the Mount Elgon mole shrew (""Surdisorex schlitteri""), the genus included two species from the highlands of central Kenya; the Aberdare mole shrew (""S. norae"") restricted to the Aberdare Range and the"
"Urotrichini Urotrichini is a tribe of the mole family, and consists of Japanese and American shrew-moles. They belong to the Old World moles and relatives branch of the mole family (Talpidae). There are only two species, each of which represents its own genus. The name ""shrew-moles"" refers to their morphological resemblance to shrews, while generally being thought of as ""true moles"". The species are the Japanese shrew mole, True's shrew mole and American shrew mole. In Japan, the word ""Himizu"" (ヒミズ) may refer to both to the Japanese shrew mole in particular and Urotrichini in general; when True's shrew mole"
"""Afrosoricida"" and the unrelated shrew subgenus ""Afrosorex"". 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; however there is no strong morphological evidence to link the Afrosoricida together with other afrotherians. Afrosoricids are sometimes considered part of the Afroinsectiphilia, a clade within Afrotheria. As a rule, tenrecs tend to be small"
"behavior, including extraordinarily fast battles. The family is divided into three subfamilies, 17 genera and 51 species. The following mammals have burrowing habits, and have by virtue of convergent evolution many derived characters in common with true moles from the family Talpidae but are nonetheless unrelated. All species in the family Talpidae are classed as ""prohibited new organisms"" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, preventing them from being imported into the country. Talpidae The family Talpidae includes the moles, shrew moles, desmans, and other intermediate forms of small insectivorous mammals of the order Eulipotyphla. Talpids are"
"American shrew mole The American shrew mole (""Neurotrichus gibbsii"") is the smallest species of mole. It is the only living member of the genus ""Neurotrichus"" and the tribe Neurotrichini. It is also known as Gibb's shrew mole and least shrew mole. It is not closely related to the Asian shrew mole (""Uropsilus"" in Urotrichini). The reason that it is called a ""shrew mole"" instead of being called either a ""shrew"" or a ""mole"" is because of its fur, which is a characteristic of shrews and its large head and heavy dentition, which is characteristic of moles. It is found in"
"Mount Kenya mole shrew (""S. polulus"") restricted to Mount Kenya. The three species, all found only in Kenya, are: Surdisorex Surdisorex is a genus of mammals in the family Soricidae. ""Surdisorex"" is one of three genera of African shrews, which, in turn, are one of three living subfamilies of shrews. Species in the genus ""Surdisorex"" are called African mole shrews because of their similarity to moles, to which they are not closely related. The genus ""Surdisorex"" represents Kenya’s only endemic genus of mammal. Prior to the description of the Mount Elgon mole shrew (""Surdisorex schlitteri""), the genus included two species"
"as the tenrecs, called Tenrecomorpha, which in turn stem from a main branch of placental mammals called the Afrosoricida. This means that they share a closer common ancestor with such existing afrosoricids as elephants, manatees, and aardvarks than they do with other placental mammals, such as true Talpidae moles. As marsupials, these moles are even more distantly related to true Talpidae moles than golden moles, both of which belong to the eutheria, or placental mammals. This means that they are more closely related to such existing Australian marsupials as kangaroos or koalas, and even to a lesser extent to American"
"record|paleontological record]] has been recalibrated, and the intervening years have seen much debate and progress concerning the theoretical underpinnings of systematization itself, partly through the new concept of [[cladistics]]. Though field work gradually made Simpson's classification outdated, it remains the closest thing to an official classification of mammals. Most mammals, including the six most species-rich [[order (biology)|orders]], belong to the placental group. The three largest orders in numbers of species are [[Rodent]]ia: [[Mouse|mice]], [[rat]]s, [[porcupine]]s, [[beaver]]s, [[capybara]]s and other gnawing mammals; [[Chiroptera]]: bats; and [[Soricomorpha]]: [[shrew]]s, [[Mole (animal)|moles]] and [[solenodon]]s. The next three biggest orders, depending on the [[biological classification]]"
"Squamata Squamata is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,000 species, it is also the second-largest order of extant (living) vertebrates, after the perciform fish, and roughly equal in number to the Saurischia (one of the two major groups of dinosaurs). Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making it possible to move the upper jaw relative to the neurocranium. This is particularly visible in snakes, which are able"
"Afrotheria Afrotheria is a clade of mammals, the living members of which belong to groups that are either currently living in Africa or of African origin: golden moles, elephant shrews (also known as sengis), tenrecs, aardvarks, hyraxes, elephants, sea cows, and several extinct clades. They share few anatomical features but many are partly or entirely African in their distribution. This probably reflects the fact that Africa was an island continent through the early Cenozoic. Because the continent was isolated by water, Laurasian groups such as insectivores, rabbits, carnivorans and ungulates could not become established. Instead, the niches occupied by those"
"Mustelidae The Mustelidae (; from Latin ""mustela"", weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, martens, mink, and wolverines, among others. Mustelids are diverse and the largest family in the order Carnivora, suborder caniform. The internal classification is still disputed, with rival proposals containing between two and eight subfamilies. One study, published in 2008, questions the long-accepted Mustelinae subfamily, and suggests that the Mustelidae consist of four major clades and three much smaller lineages. Mustelids vary greatly in size and behaviour. The least weasel can be under a foot in length, while the giant otter can measure"
"the taxonomic placement of embrithopods is also not clear. Afrotheria is a clade of placental mammals, the stem designation for which is Eutheria. Based on precedent, some clades are junior synonyms and arguably should be replaced. Afrotheria Afrotheria is a clade of mammals, the living members of which belong to groups that are either currently living in Africa or of African origin: golden moles, elephant shrews (also known as sengis), tenrecs, aardvarks, hyraxes, elephants, sea cows, and several extinct clades. They share few anatomical features but many are partly or entirely African in their distribution. This probably reflects the fact"
"Elephant shrew Elephant shrews, also called jumping shrews or sengis, are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name ""elephant shrew"" comes from a fancied resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an elephant, and their superficial similarity with shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Eulipotyphla. However, phylogenetic analysis revealed that elephant shrews are not classified with true shrews, but are in fact more closely related to elephants than shrews. In 1997 the biologist Jonathan Kingdon proposed that they instead be called ""sengis"" (singular ""sengi""), a"
"pigs, whales, bats, and others. Shrews have sharp, spike-like teeth, not the familiar gnawing front incisor teeth of rodents. Shrews are distributed almost worldwide: of the major tropical and temperate land masses, only New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand have no native shrews; in South America shrews appeared only relatively recently, as a result of the Great American Interchange, and are present only in the northern Andes. In terms of species diversity, the shrew family is the fourth most successful mammal family, being rivalled only by the muroid rodent families Muridae and Cricetidae and the bat family Vespertilionidae. All shrews"
"mole-rats (including the well-known naked mole-rat), belong to the other major division of the rodents, the Hystricomorphs. All the rhizomyines are bulky, slow-moving, burrowing animals, the ""Rhizomys"" species being the largest and stockiest. They vary in length from 150 to 480 mm (head and body) with a tail of 50 to 200 mm, and their weights are from 150 g to 4 kg, depending on the species. They mainly feed on the underground parts of plants, which they reach from foraging burrows. They are rarely active above ground, and if they do come out of their extensive burrow systems, it"
"Amblysomus Amblysomus (also Narrow-headed golden mole or South African golden mole) is a genus of the golden mole family Chrysochloridae, comprising five species of the small, insect-eating, burrowing mammals endemic to Southern Africa. All five species can be found in South Africa and some are also found in Swaziland and Lesotho. It contains the following species: ""Amblysomus"" is part of the family of golden moles, Chrysochloridae. The order of golden moles and tenrecs, Afrosoricida, is part of Afrotheria, one of the four main divisions of placental mammals, along with elephant shrews, aardvarks, hyraxes, sirenians and elephants. Golden moles are not"
"Whale Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. They are an informal grouping within the infraorder Cetacea, usually excluding dolphins and porpoises. Whales, dolphins and porpoises belong to the order Cetartiodactyla with even-toed ungulates and their closest living relatives are the hippopotamuses, having diverged about 40 million years ago. The two parvorders of whales, baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti), are thought to have split apart around 34 million years ago. The whales comprise eight extant families: Balaenopteridae (the rorquals), Balaenidae (right whales), Cetotheriidae (the pygmy right whale), Eschrichtiidae (the grey whale),"
"Blesmol The blesmols, also known as mole-rats, or African mole-rats, are burrowing rodents of the family Bathyergidae. They represent a distinct evolution of a subterranean life among rodents much like the pocket gophers of North America, the tuco-tucos in South America, or the Spalacidae. Modern blesmols are found strictly in sub-Saharan Africa. Fossil forms are also restricted almost exclusively to Africa, although a few specimens of the Pleistocene species ""Cryptomys asiaticus"" have been found in Israel. Nowak (1999) also reports that †""Gypsorhynchus"" has been found in fossil deposits of Mongolia. Blesmols are somewhat mole-like animals with cylindrical bodies and short"
"Blesmol The blesmols, also known as mole-rats, or African mole-rats, are burrowing rodents of the family Bathyergidae. They represent a distinct evolution of a subterranean life among rodents much like the pocket gophers of North America, the tuco-tucos in South America, or the Spalacidae. Modern blesmols are found strictly in sub-Saharan Africa. Fossil forms are also restricted almost exclusively to Africa, although a few specimens of the Pleistocene species ""Cryptomys asiaticus"" have been found in Israel. Nowak (1999) also reports that †""Gypsorhynchus"" has been found in fossil deposits of Mongolia. Blesmols are somewhat mole-like animals with cylindrical bodies and short"
"species as placed by Harding & Smith (2009). The genetic studies on which the scheme was based did not include the genus ""Lyncodon"", which is therefore unplaced, but it is probably allied with ""Mustela"" and ""Neovison"". Mustelidae The Mustelidae (; from Latin ""mustela"", weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, martens, mink, and wolverines, among others. Mustelids are diverse and the largest family in the order Carnivora, suborder caniform. The internal classification is still disputed, with rival proposals containing between two and eight subfamilies. One study, published in 2008, questions the long-accepted Mustelinae subfamily, and suggests"
"Squirrel Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including woodchucks), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs amongst other rodents. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, and were introduced by humans to Australia. The earliest known squirrels date from the Eocene period and are most closely related to the mountain beaver and to the dormouse among other living rodent families. The word ""squirrel"", first attested in 1327, comes from the Anglo-Norman ""esquirel"" which is from the Old French ""escurel"", the reflex"