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{{Short description|Order of mammals}}
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" align="right" cellpadding="2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
{{Automatic taxobox
<tr><th bgcolor=pink>Afrosoricida</th></tr>
| name = Afrosoricida
<!--<tr><td align="center">image here</td></tr>-->
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Eocene|Recent}}
<tr><th bgcolor=pink>{{msg:taxonomy}}</th></tr>
| image = Kleiner-igeltanrek-a.jpg
<tr><td>
| image_caption = [[Lesser hedgehog tenrec]] (''Echinops telfairi'')
<table align="center">
| image2 = Eremitalpa granti.jpg
<tr><td>{{msg:Domain}}:</td><td>[[Eukaryota]]</td></tr>
| image2_caption = [[Grant's golden mole]] (''Eremitalpa granti'')
<tr><td>{{msg:Regnum}}:</td><td>[[Animal]]ia</td></tr>
| taxon = Afrosoricida
<tr><td>{{msg:Phylum}}:</td><td>[[Chordata]]</td></tr>
| authority = Stanhope MJ, Waddell VG, Madsen O, de Jong W, Hedges SB, Cleven G, Kao D, Springer MS, 1998
<tr><td>{{msg:Classis}}:</td><td>[[Mammal]]ia</td></tr>
| subdivision_ranks = Subclades
<tr><td>{{msg:Ordo}}:</td><td>'''Afrosoricida'''</td></tr>
| subdivision =†''[[Afrodon]]''<br />
</table>
&nbsp;†''[[Dilambdogale]]''<br />
</td></tr>
&nbsp;†''[[Protenrec]]''<br />
<tr><th bgcolor=pink>[[Family (biology)|Families]]</th></tr>
&nbsp;†''[[Todralestes]]''<br />
<tr><td>
&nbsp;''[[Chrysochloridae]]''<br>
&nbsp;†''[[Widanelfarasia]]''<br />
&nbsp;''[[Tenrecidae]]''<br>
&nbsp;?†[[Adapisoriculidae]]<br />
&nbsp;[[Chrysochloridea]]<br />
</td></tr>
&nbsp;[[Tenrecomorpha]]
| range_map = Afrosoricida range Color.jpg
}}


The clade '''Afrosoricida''' (a Latin-Greek compound name which means "looking like African shrews") contains the [[golden mole]]s of [[Southern Africa]], the [[otter shrew]]s of [[equatorial Africa]] and the [[tenrec]]s of [[Madagascar]]. These three groups of small [[mammal]]s were for most of the 19th and 20th centuries regarded as a part of the [[Insectivora]] or [[Lipotyphla]], but both of those groups, as traditionally used, are [[polyphyletic]].
</table>
The order '''Afrosoricida''' (also known as '''Tenrecomorpha''') contains two families of small [[mammal]]s formerly regarded as part of the [[order (biology)|order]] [[Insectivora]].


==Naming==
Traditionally, the [[golden mole]]s of southern [[Africa]] and the [[tenrec]]s of [[Madagascar]] and Africa were grouped with the [[hedgehog]]s, [[shrew]]s and a number of other small, relatively primitive mammals in Insectivora, less because of any overwhelming morphological evidence than simply because they were difficult to place in any other order. Toward the end of the 20th century, however, a wealth of new information started to become available as a result of advances in the study of genetics. One of the most significant advances was the recognition that about one third of all living [[placental mammal]] orders appear to share a common descent. This apparently diverse group, known as [[Afrotheria]], includes the tenrecs and golden moles, the [[elephant shrew]]s, [[Aardvark]], [[hyrax]]es, [[elephant]]s and [[sirenian]]s. It is thought that the Afrotheria has an ultimately [[Gondwana|Gondwanian]] origin sometime in the [[Cretaceous]] and that its members evolved and radiated in Africa during the time when Africa was drifting and isolated from the other continents.
Some biologists use '''Tenrecoidea''' or '''Tenrecomorpha''' as the name for the tenrec-golden mole [[clade]] and regard '''Afrosoricida''' as a junior synonym (even though the rules of the [[ICZN]] do not apply above the Linnean rank of family). This is based on the principles of Simpson,<ref name="Simpson1945">{{cite journal |last1= Simpson |first1= G.G. |year= 1945 |title= The principles of classification and a classification of mammals |journal= Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |volume= 85 |pages= 1–350}}</ref> summarized by Asher & Helgen<ref name=AsherHelgen2010>{{cite journal |last1= Asher |first1= R.J. |last2= Helgen |first2= K.M. |year= 2010 |title= Nomenclature and placental mammal phylogeny |journal= BMC Evolutionary Biology |volume= 10 |issue= 1 |pages= 1–9 |doi= 10.1186/1471-2148-10-102 |doi-access= free |pmid= 20406454 |pmc= 2865478|bibcode= 2010BMCEE..10..102A }}</ref> to mean that "priority and stability should comprise the overriding principles by which new, high-level taxa are named. Established names for any given clade should not be altered unless the name with precedent unambiguously threatens stability." When "Afrosoricida" was first named in 1998, ''[[Afrosorex]]'' was a subgenus of ''[[Crocidura]]'' and McDowell<ref name="McDowell1958">{{cite journal |last1= McDowell |first1= S.B. |year= 1958 |title= The Greater Antillean Insectivores |journal= Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |volume= 115 |pages= 1–214}}</ref> had used the name '''Tenrecoidea''' for the same clade of golden moles and tenrecs. Gary Bronner and Paula Jenkins referred to "Afrosoricida" in their chapter in Wilson & Reeder<ref>{{MSW3}}</ref> as "...&nbsp;inappropriate since this clade does not include soricids, and could lead to confusion with the soricid subgenus ''[[Afrosorex]]''" but still kept it due to their perception that the name was "entrenched in the recent literature" and because of the admittedly confusing history of terms like Tenrecoidea and Tenrecomorpha.<ref>{{cite book |author=Stanhope |year=1998 |section=Afrosoricida |editor1=Wilson |editor2=Reeder |title=Mammal Species of the World |edition=3rd |via=bucknell.edu/biology |publisher=[[Bucknell University]] |section-url=https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?s=y&id=11100001}}</ref> Asher & Helgen<ref name=AsherHelgen2010/> presented their views on the appropriateness of these and other high-level taxa, including a response<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Asher |first1= R.J. |last2= Helgen |first2= K.M. |year= 2011 |title= High level Mammalian taxonomy: a response to Hedges (2011) |journal=Zootaxa |volume=3092 |pages=63–64 |doi= 10.11646/zootaxa.3092.1.5 |url=https://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/z03092p064f.pdf}}</ref> to Hedges,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hedges |first=S. Blair |date=2011-05-05 |title=On the use of high-level taxonomic names |journal=Zootaxa |volume=2867 |issue=1 |page=67 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.2867.1.5 |doi-access=free |issn=1175-5334 |url=https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.2867.1.5 }}</ref> who supported keeping "Afrosoricida".


==Biology==
As a rule, tenrecs and otter shrews tend to be small animals varying from 4&nbsp;cm to 39&nbsp;cm in length. There is no pronounced body type since they have evolved to occupy a number of small-bodied, faunivorous niches in Madagascar (tenrecines) and mainland Africa (potamogalines). However, certain species bear some ecological similarity to hedgehogs, soricid shrews, or miniature [[otter]]s. Their coat can vary from smooth to spiny and the coloration of the fur can also vary from brown, gray, to other hues (see for example photos on the ASM library<ref>{{cite web |website=American Society of Mammalogists |department=Image library |title=tenrec |url=https://www.mammalogy.org/image-library?keyword=tenrec&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC |access-date=7 September 2023 }}</ref>). Most species are also nocturnal and have poor eyesight. Their [[whisker]]s are rather sensitive and they can detect very minute vibrations in the ground to locate their prey.


Unusual among [[placental]]s, afrosoricids have a [[cloaca]], which is the rear orifice that functions as the opening for the [[urination|urinary]], [[gastrointestinal tract|digestive]], and [[reproductive system|reproductive]] tracts.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Jonathan Kingdon|author2= David Happold|author3= Thomas Butynski|author4= Michael Hoffman|author5= Meredith Happold|author6= Jan Kalina|title=Mammals of Africa: Volumes I-VI|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=B_07noCPc4kC&pg=PA216|access-date=13 November 2024|year=2020|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn= 978-1-40818-996-2|page=216}}</ref>
* '''SUBCLASS [[Eutheria|EUTHERIA]]''': placental mammals

** '''Superorder [[Afrotheria]]'''
==Phylogeny==
*** '''Order [[Afrosoricida]]'''
Traditionally, these two families were grouped with the [[hedgehog]]s, [[shrew]]s and [[Mole (animal)|mole]]s in the [[Lipotyphla]]. However, there have always been minority opinions suggesting that Tenrecoidea, or at least the golden moles, are not true lipotyphlans. For example, Robert Broom wrote in 1916<ref name=Broom1916>
**** Family [[Chrysochloridae]]: golden moles; about 30 species in 10 genera
{{cite journal
**** Family [[Tenrecidae]]: tenrecs and otter shrews; 24 species in about 10 genera
|last1=Broom |first1=R.
*** Order [[Macroscelidea]]: elephant shrews
|year=1916
*** Order [[Tubulidentata]]: Aardvark
|title=On the structure of the skull in ''Chrysochloris''
*** Order [[Hyracoidea]]: hyraxes
|journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London
*** Order [[Proboscidea]]: elephants
|volume=1916 |issue=3
*** Order [[Sirenia]]: manatees and dugongs
|pages=449–459
** (Other superorders, not listed here)
|doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.1916.tb02024.x
{{msg:Mammals}}
|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/72143
}}
</ref>
that "examination of the skull confirms ... that ''[[Chrysochloris]]'' is not a near ally of ''Centetes''" (i.e., ''[[Tenrec ecaudatus]]'') "and that it is not an Insectivore". These opinions are now supported by many genetic studies indicating an association between tenrecoids and various other African mammals in the [[Afrotheria]].<ref name=Stanhope1998>
{{cite journal
|last1=Stanhope |first1=M.J. |last2=Waddell |first2=V.G.
|last3=Madsen |first3=O. |last4=de&nbsp;Jong |first4=W.
|last5=Hedges |first5=S.B. |last6=Cleven |first6=G.C.
|last7=Kao |first7=D. |last8=Springer |first8=M.S.
|year=1998
|title=Molecular evidence for multiple origins of Insectivora and for a new order of endemic African insectivore mammals
|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
|volume=95 |issue=17 |pages=9967–9972
|doi=10.1073/pnas.95.17.9967 |doi-access=free
|pmid=9707584 |pmc=21445 |bibcode=1998PNAS...95.9967S
}}
</ref><ref name=Douady2003>
{{cite journal
|last1=Douady |first1=C.J.
|last2=Douzery |first2=E.J.P.
|year=2003
|title=Molecular estimation of eulipotyphlan divergence times and the evolution of "Insectivora"
|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
|volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=285–296
|doi= 10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00119-2 |pmid=12878465
|bibcode=2003MolPE..28..285D
}}
</ref><ref name=Everson2016>
{{cite journal
|last1=Everson |first1=K.M. |last2=Soarimalala |first2=V.
|last3=Goodman |first3=S.M. |last4=Olson |first4=L.E.
|year= 2016
|title= 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
|journal=Systematic Biology
|volume=65 |issue=5 |pages=890–909
|doi=10.1093/sysbio/syw034 |doi-access=free |pmid=27103169
}}
</ref><ref name=Upham2019>
{{Cite journal
|last1=Upham |first1=Nathan S.
|last2=Esselstyn |first2=Jacob A.
|last3=Jetz |first3=Walter
|date=2019
|title=Inferring the mammal tree: Species-level sets of phylogenies for questions in ecology, evolution and conservation
|journal=PLOS Biol
|volume=17 |issue=12 |page=e3000494
|doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000494 |doi-access=free
|pmid=31800571 |pmc=6892540
}}
</ref>
Tenrecs and golden moles are sometimes considered part of the [[Afroinsectiphilia]], a clade within Afrotheria.

===Cladogram of living Afrosoricida===
The generally accepted cladogram of living Afrosoricida is:<ref name=Everson2016/><ref name=Upham2019/>

{{clade
|style=font-size:90%;line-height:100%;align:left;
|label1='''Afrosoricida'''
|1={{clade
|label1= Chrysochloridea
|1={{clade
|label1= [[Chrysochloridae]]
|1={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade
|label1= ''[[Eremitalpa]]''
|1=''[[Eremitalpa granti|E. granti]]''
}}
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade
|label1= ''[[Stuhlmann's golden mole|Kilimatalpa]]''
|1={{clade |label1= |1=''[[Stuhlmann's golden mole|K. stuhlmanni]]'' }}
|label2= ''[[Chrysochloris]]''
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Chrysochloris asiatica|C. asiatica]]''
|2=''[[Cryptochloris wintoni|C. wintoni]]''
}}
}}
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Chrysospalax trevelyani]]''
|2=''[[Calcochloris obtusirostris]]''
}}
|2={{clade
|label1=''[[Chlorotalpa]]''
|1={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Chlorotalpa duthieae|C. duthieae]]''
|2=''[[Chlorotalpa sclateri|C. sclateri]]''
}}
|label2=''[[Amblysomus]]''
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade |label1= |1=''[[Amblysomus hottentotus|A. hottentotus]]''}}
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Amblysomus marleyi|A. marleyi]]''
|2=''[[Amblysomus septentrionalis|A. septentrionalis]]''
|3={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade |label1= |1=''[[Arends' golden mole|A. arendsi]]'' }}
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Amblysomus gunningi|A. gunningi]]''
|2=''[[Amblysomus julianae|A. julianae]]''
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
|label2= [[Tenrecomorpha]]
|2={{clade
|label1= [[Potamogalidae]]
|1={{clade
|label1= ''[[Micropotamogale]]''
|1={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Micropotamogale lamottei|M. lamottei]]''
|2=''[[Micropotamogale ruwenzorii|M. ruwenzorii]]''
}}
|label2= ''[[Potamogale]]''
|2={{clade |label1= |1=''[[Potamogale velox|P. velox]]''}}
}}
|label2= [[Tenrecidae]]
|2={{clade
|label1= [[Tenrecinae]]
|1={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Hemicentetes semispinosus]]''
|2=''[[Tenrec ecaudatus]]''
}}
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Echinops telfairi]]''
|2=''[[Setifer setosus]]''
}}
}}
|2={{clade
|1={{clade
|label1=''[[Geogale]]''
|1={{clade |label1= |1=''[[Geogale aurita|G. aurita]]'' }}
}}
|label2= [[Oryzorictinae]]
|2={{clade
|label1= ''[[Oryzorictes]]''
|1={{clade |label1= |1=''[[Oryzorictes hova|O. hova]]'' }}
|label2= ''[[Microgale]]''
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Microgale talazaci|M. talazaci]]''
|2=''[[Microgale dobsoni|M. dobsoni]]''
}}
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade |1=''[[Microgale cowani|M. cowani]]'' }}
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Microgale brevicaudata|M. brevicaudata]]''
|2=''[[Microgale grandidieri|M. grandidieri]]''
}}
}}
|3={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Microgale mergulus|M. mergulus]]''
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Microgale pusilla|M. pusilla]]''
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Microgale majori|M. majori]]''
|2={{clade
|label1=
|1=''[[Microgale principula|M. principula]]''
|2=''[[Microgale longicaudata|M. longicaudata]]''
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
{{clear}}

=== Species ===
* Infraclass [[Eutheria]]: placental mammals
** Superorder [[Afrotheria]]
*** Clade [[Afroinsectiphilia]]
**** Clade [[Afroinsectivora]]
***** Order '''Afrosoricida'''
****** Suborder [[Tenrecomorpha]] (otter shrews and tenrecs)
******* Family [[Potamogalidae]] ([[otter shrew]]s)
******** Genus ''[[Micropotamogale]]''
********* [[Nimba otter shrew]] (''[[Micropotamogale lamottei]]'')
********* [[Ruwenzori otter shrew]] (''[[Micropotamogale ruwenzorii]]'')
******** Genus ''[[Potamogale]]''
********* [[Giant otter shrew]] (''[[Potamogale velox]]'')
******* Family [[Plesiorycteropodidae]]
******** Genus †''[[Plesiorycteropus]]''
********* †''Plesiorycteropus madagascariensis''
********* †''Plesiorycteropus germainepetterae''
******* Family [[Tenrecidae]] ([[tenrec]]s)
******** 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]]'')
********* Subgenus ''[[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)
********* Tribe [[Setiferini]]
********** Genus ''[[Echinops (tenrec)|Echinops]]''
*********** [[Lesser hedgehog tenrec]] (''[[Echinops telfairi]]'')
********** Genus ''[[Setifer]]''
*********** [[Greater hedgehog tenrec]] (''[[Setifer setosus]]'')
********* Tribe [[Tenrecini]]
********** Genus ''[[Hemicentetes]]''
*********** [[Highland streaked tenrec]] (''[[Hemicentetes nigriceps]]'')
*********** [[Lowland streaked tenrec]] (''[[Hemicentetes semispinosus]]'')
********** Genus ''[[Tenrec (genus)|Tenrec]]''
*********** [[Common tenrec]] (''[[Tenrec ecaudatus]]'')
****** Suborder [[Chrysochloridea]] ([[golden mole]]s)
******* 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 (mole)|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==

* [[Pseudoungulata]]
* [[List of mammals of Madagascar]]
* [[List of afrosoricids]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mammals}}
{{Afrosoricida}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q328082}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Afrosoricida| ]]
[[Category:Afroinsectivora]]
[[Category:Mammal orders]]
[[Category:Extant Miocene first appearances]]
[[Category:Taxa described in 1998]]

Latest revision as of 12:09, 6 February 2025

Afrosoricida
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Mirorder: Afroinsectivora
Order: Afrosoricida
Stanhope MJ, Waddell VG, Madsen O, de Jong W, Hedges SB, Cleven G, Kao D, Springer MS, 1998
Subclades

†Afrodon
 †Dilambdogale
 †Protenrec
 †Todralestes
 †Widanelfarasia
 ?†Adapisoriculidae
 Chrysochloridea
 Tenrecomorpha

The clade 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 groups of small mammals were for most of the 19th and 20th centuries regarded as a part of the Insectivora or Lipotyphla, but both of those groups, as traditionally used, are polyphyletic.

Naming

[edit]

Some biologists use Tenrecoidea or Tenrecomorpha as the name for the tenrec-golden mole clade and regard Afrosoricida as a junior synonym (even though the rules of the ICZN do not apply above the Linnean rank of family). This is based on the principles of Simpson,[1] summarized by Asher & Helgen[2] to mean that "priority and stability should comprise the overriding principles by which new, high-level taxa are named. Established names for any given clade should not be altered unless the name with precedent unambiguously threatens stability." When "Afrosoricida" was first named in 1998, Afrosorex was a subgenus of Crocidura and McDowell[3] had used the name Tenrecoidea for the same clade of golden moles and tenrecs. Gary Bronner and Paula Jenkins referred to "Afrosoricida" in their chapter in Wilson & Reeder[4] as "... inappropriate since this clade does not include soricids, and could lead to confusion with the soricid subgenus Afrosorex" but still kept it due to their perception that the name was "entrenched in the recent literature" and because of the admittedly confusing history of terms like Tenrecoidea and Tenrecomorpha.[5] Asher & Helgen[2] presented their views on the appropriateness of these and other high-level taxa, including a response[6] to Hedges,[7] who supported keeping "Afrosoricida".

Biology

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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 occupy a number of small-bodied, faunivorous niches in Madagascar (tenrecines) and mainland Africa (potamogalines). However, certain species bear some ecological similarity to hedgehogs, soricid shrews, or miniature otters. Their coat can vary from smooth to spiny and the coloration of the fur can also vary from brown, gray, to other hues (see for example photos on the ASM library[8]). Most species are also nocturnal and have poor eyesight. Their whiskers are rather sensitive and they can detect very minute vibrations in the ground to locate their prey.

Unusual among placentals, afrosoricids have a cloaca, which is the rear orifice that functions as the opening for the urinary, digestive, and reproductive tracts.[9]

Phylogeny

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Traditionally, these two families were grouped with the hedgehogs, shrews and moles in the Lipotyphla. However, there have always been minority opinions suggesting that Tenrecoidea, or at least the golden moles, are not true lipotyphlans. For example, Robert Broom wrote in 1916[10] that "examination of the skull confirms ... that Chrysochloris is not a near ally of Centetes" (i.e., Tenrec ecaudatus) "and that it is not an Insectivore". These opinions are now supported by many genetic studies indicating an association between tenrecoids and various other African mammals in the Afrotheria.[11][12][13][14] Tenrecs and golden moles are sometimes considered part of the Afroinsectiphilia, a clade within Afrotheria.

Cladogram of living Afrosoricida

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The generally accepted cladogram of living Afrosoricida is:[13][14]

Afrosoricida

Species

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Simpson, G.G. (1945). "The principles of classification and a classification of mammals". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 85: 1–350.
  2. ^ a b Asher, R.J.; Helgen, K.M. (2010). "Nomenclature and placental mammal phylogeny". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 10 (1): 1–9. Bibcode:2010BMCEE..10..102A. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-10-102. PMC 2865478. PMID 20406454.
  3. ^ McDowell, S.B. (1958). "The Greater Antillean Insectivores". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 115: 1–214.
  4. ^ Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  5. ^ Stanhope (1998). "Afrosoricida". In Wilson; Reeder (eds.). Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Bucknell University – via bucknell.edu/biology.
  6. ^ Asher, R.J.; Helgen, K.M. (2011). "High level Mammalian taxonomy: a response to Hedges (2011)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3092: 63–64. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3092.1.5.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "tenrec". Image library. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  9. ^ Jonathan Kingdon; David Happold; Thomas Butynski; Michael Hoffman; Meredith Happold; Jan Kalina (2020). Mammals of Africa: Volumes I-VI. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-40818-996-2. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  10. ^ Broom, R. (1916). "On the structure of the skull in Chrysochloris". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1916 (3): 449–459. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1916.tb02024.x.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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. Bibcode:2003MolPE..28..285D. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00119-2. PMID 12878465.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ a b 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.
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