Afrosoricida, from Latin Āfrica (“Africa”) and Latin sorex (“shrew, shrew-mouse”), means “looking like African shrews”, in reference to the fact that these animals have a strong similarity with shrews (Eulipotyphla order, Soricidae family).

Common names of members

Golden moles, tenrecs, and otter-shrews.

Distribution 

Golden moles (Family Chrysochloridae): Southern Africa

Tenrecs (Family Tenrecidae): Madagascar and western central Africa

Otter-shrews (Family Tenrecidae): Sub-Saharan Africa

Size

They tend to be small animals varying from 4 cm to 39 cm in length.

Morphology

Certain species bear some ecological similarity to hedgehogs, soricid shrews, or miniature otters. Their coat can vary from smooth to spiny and the coloration of the fur can also vary from brown to gray, with v-shaped ridge upper molars. They have cloaca (a single opening for excretion and sexual intercourse) and males lack a scrotum.

Ecology & Habitat

Golden moles (Family Chrysochloridae): Subterranean, living in a variety of environments, such as forests, swamps, deserts and mountainous terrains.

Tenrecs (Family Tenrecidae): Forests and other closed environments.

Otter-shrews (Family Tenrecidae): Freshwater aquatic microhabitats in the rainforest. Preferred environments include fast flowing rivers, streams, swamps, and coastal rivers.

Diet

Golden moles (Family Chrysochloridae): carnivorous, small insects and earthworms or small vertebrates such as lizards or burrowing snakes.

Tenrecs (Family Tenrecidae): omnivorous, with invertebrates forming the largest part of their diets. 

Otter-shrews (Family Tenrecidae): carnivorous, preying on any aquatic animal, particularly insects.

Reproduction 

Golden moles: Females will use grass to make a nest in the underground burrow. Each female gives birth to 1-3 offspring during each reproduction.

Tenrecs: Most of the tenrecs have a large litter size (up to 30 babies). 

Otter-shrews (Family Tenrecidae): They give birth to one or two young per litter, once or twice a year. Males move long distances via water in search of mates and it is thought that males rut (or fight) during the wet season.

Total species known

55

Species in the collection

1

Species in Hong Kong

0

References

- Stephenson, P. J., Soarimalala, V., Goodman, S. M., Nicoll, M. E., Andrianjakarivelo, V., Everson, K. M., Hoffmann, M., Jenkins, P. D., Olson, L. E., Raheriarisena, M., Rakotondraparany, F., Rakotondravony, D., Randrianjafy, V., Ratsifandrihamanana, N., Taylor, A. (2021). Review of the status and conservation of tenrecs (Mammalia: Afrotheria: Tenrecidae). Oryx, 55(1), 13-22. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605318001205.

- Asher, R.J., Maree, S., Bronner, G., Bannett, N. C., Bloomer, P., Czechowski, P., Meyer, M., Hofreiter, M. (2010). A phylogenetic estimate for golden moles (Mammalia, Afrotheria, Chrysochloridae). BMC Ecology and Evolution, 10(69). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-10-69. 

- Everson, K. M., Soarimalala, V., Goodman, S. M., Olson,  L. E. (2016). Multiple Loci and Complete Taxonomic Sampling Resolve the Phylogeny and Biogeographic History of Tenrecs (Mammalia: Tenrecidae) and Reveal Higher Speciation Rates in Madagascar's Humid Forests. Systematic Biology, 65(5) 890–909, https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syw034. 

- Symonds, M. R. E. (2017). Phylogeny and life histories of the ‘Insectivora’: controversies and consequences. Biological Reviews, 80(1), 93-128. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1464793104006566.

- Amori, G., Milana, G., Rotondo, C., Luiselli, L. (2015). Macro-ecological patterns of the endemic Afrosoricida and Rodentia of Madagascar. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 26(1), 53-57. https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-26.1-11304. 

- Skinner, J. D., Chimimba, C. T. (2005). The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107340992.