Insectivorous animals have the main distinguishing feature from other mammals - it is an elongated head with an elongated muzzle, significantly protruding 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 way of life. But all 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 the insectivorous type, that is, adapted for gnawing chitin. Must have fangs. The incisors are quite long, forming pincers between themselves. The molars are covered with tubercles. The ears and eyes are small and not conspicuous. The cerebrum of insectivorous animals is primitive (the large 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: tenrec, hedgehogs, shrews and springboats.
Fossil insectivores
Insectivores are one of the most ancient groupshigher animals. Archaeologists have found their remains in the Upper Cretaceous deposits 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 diet. Many types of ancient animals were larger than modern insectivores, examples of this are dienogalerix and lepticidium. Their well-preserved remains were found in Germany, in the Eocene deposits near Messel. In general, representatives of insectivorous animals have always been small in size.
Lifestyle
Certain species of insectivorous animals lead a different way of life: arboreal, underground or semi-aquatic. Most are nocturnal. Some species are awake almost around the clock. The basis of the diet is, of course, insects and small underground animals. But some insectivorous animals are also predators. Some representatives eat juicy sweet fruits, and during the period of starvation, plant seeds can also become their food. The stomach of these animals is simple. The caecum is absent in some species. All members of this order are polygamous. The females have a bicornuate uterus. In males, the testicles are located in the groin or in the scrotum. Pregnancy in females lasts from a decade to one and a half months. During one year, most often there is only one litter, which can have up to 14 cubs. Insectivorous animals become full-grown in the period from 3 months to 2 years. The very appearance of animals is different, for example, hedgehogs have spines, the otter shrew has a long tail flattened on the sides, and moles have two spade-shaped front paws.
Insectivores of Russia
In our country, insectivorous animals are represented by species: moles, desmans, hedgehogs and shrews. From time immemorial, hedgehogs and shrews were considered among the people as useful animals, since they exterminate exclusively harmful insects. Moles were considered half useful animals - they destroy various soil inhabitants, including May beetle larvae, but they 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 furs, and they are objects of hunting. Previously, desmans were also hunted in Russia.
Biological and economic importance
Insectivorous animals are links of 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, since these animals also eat agricultural pests. Some species of insectivorous animals are objects of fur trade (desman, moles, etc.). But these animals can pose a serious danger to humans, since some of them are carriers of ticks, and with them many dangerous diseases (leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, etc.). Rare species such as the flint-toothed or desman are listed in the Red Book and are under state protection.
