Afrosoricids, members of the order Afrosoricida, are an order containing the golden moles and the tenrecs. These two families of small mammals have traditionally been considered to be a part of the order Insectivora, a known "dumping ground taxon" containing many insectivorous mammals that are placed there due to not fitting anywhere else.

Members of this order can be quite diverse phonologically, resembling species such as hedgehogs, mice, opossums, and even otters. All species share a cloacal opening and similar teeth structures, often having zalambdodontal teeth, and most have little to no eyesight whatsoever. They can be aquatic, live in trees, settle a lifestyle on the surface, or even live underground within burrows. Members play a key role in food chains, providing a pest control by feeding upon insect populations, and providing food for their local predators.

Tenrecs in general tend to be small animals varying from 4cm to 39 cm in length, however they have no pronounced specific body type. This is because they evolved specifically to take over insect-eating niches in their local environments, often leaving them to somewhat resemble other animal orders in some aspects. Their coats can be smooth or spiny, and most species are nocturnal with poor eyesight. They make up for this low eyesight with their sensitive whiskers.

Golden moles have short legs with powerful digging claws, dense fur, and tough skin. They are blind; their eyes are non-functional and covered with furred skin. Rather than having ears, similar to some reptiles, they have tiny openings upon their heads.

Species

• golden_mole
• tenrec
• lesser_hedgehog_tenrec
• potamogale (also known as "otter shrews")
• giant_potamogale
• streaked_tenrec
• lowland_streaked_tenrec

Not to be confused with

• eulipotyphlan
• hedgehog
• mole

Other mammal rankings

• tag group:species
• mammal
• afrosoricid - Golden mole and tenrec.
• bovine - Buffalo, cattle, yak, etc.
• camelid - Alpaca, camel, llama, etc.
• canine - Dog, fox, wolf, etc.
• caprine - Goat, ibex, sheep, etc.
• cervine - Elk, moose, reindeer, etc.
• cetacean - Dolphin, porpoise, whale, etc.
• equine - Donkey, horse, zebra, etc.
• eulipotyphlan - Hedgehog, mole, shrew, etc.
• euplerid - Fanaloka, fossa, vontsira, etc.
• feline - Cat, lion, tiger, etc.
• giraffid - Giraffe, okapi, etc.
• herpestid - Mongoose
• lagomorph - Rabbit, hare, pika, etc.
• marsupial - Kangaroo, koala, opossum, etc.
• mephitid - Skunks and stink badgers.
• monotreme - Echidna and platypus
• mustelid - Ferret, otter, weasel, etc.
• pinniped - Sea lion, seal, walrus, etc.
• porcine - Boar, pig, warthog, etc.
• primate - Ape, lemur, monkey, etc. (excludes human)
• proboscidean - Elephant, mammoth, mastodon, etc.
• procyonid - Kinkajou, raccoon, ring-tailed cat, etc.
• rodent - Mouse, rat, squirrel, etc.
• ursine - Grizzly bear, panda, polar bear, etc.
• viverrid - Civet, genet, linsang, etc.
• xenarthran - Anteater, armadillo, and sloth.