Soricomorpha

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Soricomorpha[1]
Fossil range: Middle Eocene–Recent
Southern Short-tailed Shrew
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Superorder: Laurasiatheria
Order: Soricomorpha
Gregory, 1910
Families

The order Soricomorpha ("shrew-form") is a biological clade within the class of mammals. In previous years it formed a significant group within the former Insectivora order. However, that order was shown to be polyphylectic and various new orders were split off from it, including Afrosoricida (tenrecs and golden moles), Macroscelidea (elephant shrews), and Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures), leaving just four families as shown here, leaving Insectivora empty and disbanded.[1] The order ranges in size from the Etruscan Shrew, at about 3.5 cm and 2 grams, to the Cuban Solenodon, at about 32 cm and 1000 grams.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Hutterer, Rainer (2005-11-16). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds). ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 220-311. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
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