Eulipotyphla
Eulipotyphla is a mammalian order that includes moles, shrews, hedgehogs, and other species. Once classified under the insectivore order, these mammals are generally smaller, ground-dwelling, and feed on invertebrates. The Eulipotyphla are characterized by primitive teeth, poor intellect, small eyes with poor vision, long pointed narrow muzzles, and an excellent sense of smell and hearing. They live in solitary and show strong limbs and claws they use to dig out food from the soil or dig tunnels in the ground in which they spend most of their time or hide from predators. Others like the hedgehog can hibernate.
The characteristics of Eulipotyphla members include physically being small, long pointed snouts, multiple sharp teeth, small ears, as well as small eyes. Other characteristics include eating insects, specifically worms, crustaceans, and small vertebrates. Members of the Eulipotyphla family also typically have a spiny coat and are known for living underground.
Moles and shrews are not considered rodents as they belong to the insectivore family. The insectivore family consists of small mammals that include bats, insects, insect grubs, worms, snails, slugs, and spiders. They belong to a different family even though they are similar in their physical appearance.
There are a total of 450 species of Eulipotyphla species with the most common being hedgehogs, shrews, gymnures, desmans, and moles. Other Eulipotyphla species include moonrats, solenodons, white-toothed shrews, red-toothed shrews, and nesophotids. There are 5 families that are part of the Eulipotyphla order.
