shrews, moles, hedgehogs

There are about 450 species in this order. Most species are small and eat insects, although many species eat worms, crustaceans, and small vertebrates. This order was once called the Insectivora order.

most of the species in this order have long, pointed snouts; lots of sharp teeth; small ears; and small eyes. They are found all over the world, except for the polar regions and Australia. They live in a variety of habitats. Some species, like moles, live underground. Some species, like hedgehogs, have a spiny coat. The smallest mammal living today, the pygmy shrew, is a member of this order.

The animals in this order are the most primitive living mammals and scientists think that all mammals may have evolved from the ancestors of this order.