Mammalogy 4764 Fall 2009
ORDER “INSECTIVORA” ORDER “INSECTIVORA” Afrosoricida Small to medium-sized with plantigrade locomotion Tenrecidae (Madagascar) Hedgehogs, moles, tenrecs, golden moles, solenodons, shrews Chrysochloridae Long, pointed snouts External pinnae usually small or absent Retain primitive characteristics Erinaceomorpha Eyes may be nonfunctional Catchall for hard-to-fit taxa, e.g., Erinaceidae Scandentia, Macroscelidea, Dermoptera Braincase is small with smooth cerebral hemispheres Africa, Europe, Asia Old families -- 50 MYA Primitive dentition includes some species with tribosphenic molars Soricomorpha Separated from other orders by canine teeth smaller than incisors Solenodontidae Soricidae Talpidae Nesophontidae?
Madagascar hedgehog Echinops telfairi ORDER INSECTIVORA: Order Afrosoricida Tenrecidae: tenrecs and otter shrews
65 mya 10 genera, 24 species Island of Madagascar -- adaptive radiation 21 species here Shrew to cottontail rabbit in size Tenrec Giant otter shrew Potamogale velox ~ Otter Tenrec ecaudatus
Rice tenrecs (Oryzorictes)~ Moles
Web-footed shrew Micropotamogale sp. ~ Muskrat
Long-tailed tenrec Microgale dobsoni~ Shrews
Afrosoricida: Chrysochloridae: the golden moles Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceidae: hedgehogs and gymnures Golden moles -- convergent evolution example -- 7 genera, 18 species African hedgehog Erinaceus frontalis True moles (Talpidae) and Marsupial moles (Notoryctidae) 7 genera, 21 species Africa, Eurasia, southeast Asia
Generally nocturnal, terrestrial, omnivores
True hibernation in hedgehog species Estivation in desert species Other insectivores hibernate (Tenrecidae)
Eurasian hedgehog Erinaceus europus Moon rat Echinosorex gymnurus
Fig. 8.8 and 8.9 MOW
1 Mammalogy 4764 Fall 2009
Soricomorpha: Talpidae: Moles, Desmans, Shrew-moles Condylura cristata Star-nosed mole 17 genera, 42 species Nearctic, Palearctic
Eimer’s organs: Touch and not smell
Fig. 11.5 Fig. 20.7 Scalopus aquaticus Eastern American mole
Soricomorpha: Solenodontidae: the solenodons Soricomorpha: Soricidae: Shrews
1 genus, 2 species 23 genera, 312 species (+/-) West Indies is native area 2 Subfamilies: Cuba and Haiti Red-toothed (Soricinae) -- Nearctic, Palearctic, Oriental Solen = channel, dent = tooth White-toothed (Crocidurinae) – Palearctic Fig. 11.10 76 MYA split No shrews in:
10-15 g, 50 mm body length
Soricidae Body size and life history: Consequences of being small Least shrew Cryptotis parva Live 1 year or so on average Short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda Too small to hibernate (or migrate)
Northern water shrew Sorex palustris
Water or moist habitats --Respiratory water loss
High energy requirements
2 Mammalogy 4764 Fall 2009
Order Macroscelidea -- Elephant shrews ORDER INSECTIVORA: Traditionally associated with Scandentia and Insectivora Relatively poor fossil record--small 65 mya Support: shared primitive charactistics (e.g., teeth), differ in other characteristics (e.g., auditory bullae)
Molecular: Common ancestor long ago-- Insectivora (golden mole), Tubulidenta
Terrestrial, diurnal Torpor
Order Macroscelidea -- Elephant shrews Order Scandentia -- Tree shrews Now: separate order, single family Macroscelididae Single family: Tupaiidae 4 genera, 15 species 5 genera, 19 species Africa distribution Small “squirrels” Plains, savannas, desert, forest Asia 45 to 50 g Disagreement about phylogenetic relationships Insectivorous Dermoptera, Lagomorpha, Macroscelidea? Pairs with stable territories (most species) Tooth comb, claws (not nails), postorbital process similar to Primates Some live in small colonies Shared diurnal, arboreal niche causing similarity to primates? 2 month gestation -- longer than expected Frugivorous, 13-29 minute food passage times!!! Parental care little, visit young to suckle every other day--anti-predator
Order Dermoptera -- Colugos
“Flying lemurs” misnomer “Skin wing”
1 family, 1 genus, 2 species Cynocephalidae, Cynocephalus
Oriental region today
Herbivore Pectinate lower incisors Hang while feeding
Patagium neck to tail 100 m, loses 10 m MOW
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