Insectivorous animals have the main distinguishing feature from other mammals - this is an elongated head with an elongated muzzle, protruding significantly beyond the skull, in some cases similar to a trunk. These animals belong to the order of primitive mammals. They are different in appearance and lifestyle. But all the representatives are pretty cute and funny insectivorous animals (the photo serves as proof of this). Their limbs are five-fingered and equipped with claws. The teeth of these animals are of an insectivorous type, that is, adapted for cracking chitin. Be sure to have fangs. The incisors are quite long, forming mites among themselves. The molars are covered with tubercles. Ears and eyes are small and do not rush into the eyes. The brain of insectivorous animals is primitive (the cerebral hemispheres do not have furrows) and does not cover the cerebellum. These creatures inhabit the entire globe, except for Australia and a large part of South America. Species of insectivorous animals are divided into four families: tenrek, hedgehog, shrew and hopping.
Fossil insectivores
Insectivorous animals are one of the most ancient groups of higher animals. Archaeologists have found their remains in the Upper Cretaceous sediments of the Mesozoic era. This is approximately 135 million years ago. In those days, there were quite a lot of insects on Earth that were food for other animals, so many ancient mammals (judging by the structure of the jaw) used them in their diets. Many species of ancient animals were larger than modern insectivorous animals, examples of which are dienogalerix and lepticidium. Their well-preserved remains are found in Germany, in Eocene sediments near Messel. In general, representatives of insectivorous animals have always been small.
Lifestyle
Certain species of insectivorous animals lead a different lifestyle: woody, underground or semi-aquatic. Most inherent nocturnal activity. Some species are awake almost around the clock. The basis of the diet is, of course, insects and small underground animals. But some animals are carnivores and predators. Some representatives eat juicy sweet fruits, and during the nourishing period, plant seeds can also become their food. The stomach of these animals is simple. The cecum is absent in some species. All representatives of this squad are polygamous. Females have a bicorn uterus. In males, the testes are located in the groin or scrotum. Pregnancy in females lasts from a decade to a month and a half. Within one year, most often there is only one litter, which can be up to 14 cubs. Insectivorous animals become full-grown in the period from 3 months to 2 years. The appearance of animals is different, for example, in hedgehogs there are needles, in an otter shrew - a long tail flattened on the sides, and in moles - two shovel-like forelegs.
Insectivorous animals of Russia
In our country, insectivorous animals are represented by species: moles, desman, hedgehogs and shrews. From time immemorial, hedgehogs and shrews were popularly considered useful animals, since they exterminate exclusively harmful insects. Moles were considered half useful animals - they destroy various soil inhabitants, including the larvae of May beetles, but also eat useful earthworms. Also, breaking through their endless underground passages, moles harm forest, garden and garden plantings. But the fur of these animals is considered expensive fur, and they are objects of hunting. Earlier in Russia they also hunted desman.
Biological and economic importance
Insectivorous animals are links in various natural biocenoses. For example, they loosen the soil, improving its quality, and regulate the number of insects in the forest litter. For humans, their existence is also important, because these animals eat and agricultural pests. Some species of insectivorous animals are objects of fur trade (muskrat, moles and others). But these animals can pose a serious danger to humans, since some of them are tick transmitters, and with them many dangerous diseases (leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis , etc.). Rare species, such as slabs or muskrats, are listed in the Red Book and are protected by the state.