Everyone knows that, according to the scientific classification, the animal kingdom is divided into types, they, in turn, are divided into classes, and the latter into units. The most common and well-known to everyone since childhood animals, such as cats, dogs, horses and others, belong to mammals. This class, in turn, belongs to the Chordate type.
Mammal classification
Among this class, two subclasses and twenty-one detachments are distinguished. The first subclass is single pass. These include the platypus and the echidna. The peculiarity of these animals is that they do not give birth to cubs, but lay eggs, however, the offspring that appears from them are fed with milk. Representatives of the second subclass - viviparous - are divided into marsupials (lower) and placental (higher), the latter include the remaining nineteen orders. These are pinnipeds, bats, carnivores, cetaceans, non-toothed, damans, sirens, proboscis, artiodactyls, pipe-toothed, artiodactyls, woolly wings, rodents, callopods, lizards, hare-like, primates and insectivores. These are the last ones that interest us. Today we’ll talk about what insectivorous animals exist . Examples, names and basic habits of these mammals will also be considered in our article.
Brief description of the detachment
The vital organs of the representatives of this detachment preserved the primitive features that were inherent in ancient animals. So, the cerebral hemispheres of the insectivore almost do not contain convolutions, the skull is elongated, the teeth are sharp, tuberous, and it is difficult to divide them into groups. Most of the animals that belong to this group are small, the skin is represented by short soft hairs or short spines, and the legs have five fingers. Many of these creatures are mostly nocturnal, but some are active during the day. From the name of the detachment it is clear that the basis of their diet are various insects.
Representatives
Not everyone knows which animals are insectivores. Their names, meanwhile, have been known to us since childhood. Although there are unfamiliar species, which we will also talk about later. In the meantime, dwell on the "old comrades."
Hedgehogs
The most famous and common example of insectivorous animals is the hedgehog. This family has 14 species. By the way, hedgehog is an example of insectivorous animals, the skin of which is spines, not wool. In addition to the ordinary (or European) hedgehog, which we can often see, say, in the country, there are also South African, eared, Indian, Chinese, dark-needle, Ethiopian, Amur, collared and others. Individuals that live in a hot area have a large ear size. In such conditions, the latter serve as regulators of body temperature. Therefore, almost all animals living in the desert have large ears. Hedgehogs are usually more active at night. Their diet consists of a variety of insects, worms, which they find in the ground. Also, animals can eat frogs, mice and even vipers, the poison of which almost does not affect them. It is a mistake to assume that hedgehogs eat apples and other fruits - they string them on needles to get rid of fleas and other parasites due to the acid contained in the juice. In winter, these animals, like many insectivores, hibernate.
Moles
The mole is also a prime example of insectivorous animals. These representatives of mammals have many characteristic features of this class, but there are also distinctive features. The skin of moles, in contrast to the hedgehogs discussed above, is presented in the form of short dark hair. The front legs of these animals have a rather specific appearance for insectivores - they are enlarged, long claws are located on them, as they are intended for convenient digging of the earth. Moles live in the ground, where they make holes with numerous nests and tunnels. Here it is convenient for them to find food in the form of earthworms, larvae of various insects, etc. Another distinctive feature of the mole is its underdeveloped eyes - since it lives underground, it practically does not need them; the main sensory organ is the nose.
Shrews
Speaking about which animals are insectivores, we must also mention them. Each of us at least once heard about this funny animal. It is as common on the Eurasian continent as the “brethren” described above. These animals are found almost everywhere except Australia, South America and the Antarctic. These are small creatures covered with thin wool, active at any time of the day. Of course, they feed on insects and ... other small animals found in the earth, which is clear from their name. Sometimes they also eat seeds. The family of shrews includes shrews and shrews. They bring great benefits, like hedgehogs, destroying many harmful insects.
Little-known representatives of this squad
Now let's talk about those representatives of the detachment under consideration, which not everyone knows, so to speak, in person (well, or in the face). So, which animals are insectivores? For example, the family is tenrek. These creatures are very similar to hedgehogs, before they even belonged to the same family. Tenreks live in Madagascar and Comoros. This is a very ancient family of insectivores, whose representatives have been known since the Cretaceous. Like hedgehogs, they have spines, usually dark in color. Some species have yellow spots on them. An interesting feature of these animals is the extremely low metabolism and absolutely low body temperature, which is usually not characteristic of mammals.
Another interesting and little-known to ordinary people view is the crab. These are insectivorous animals that are quite large in size. Their habitat is Cuba and Haiti. They look like large shrews or rats, but have longer legs and, unlike rats, a longer muzzle like a proboscis. It is interesting that the crawfish belongs to a few poisonous mammals, the poison is secreted by the gland, the duct of which is located on the lower jaw. Listed in the Red Book.
The bouncer is also an example of insectivorous animals. Most of all, he resembles a jerboa, and lives in Africa. The basis of his diet are termites, other insects, seeds, small fruits.
The smallest mammal in the CIS
One can rightly call such a tiny shrew, which also refers to the detachment considered in this article. Its dimensions are approximately 4-5 cm (including the tail), and its weight is only 2-4 grams.