INSECTIVORA ©Skulls Unlimited International 10313 South Sunnylane Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73160 sales@skullsunlimited.com 1-800-659-SKULL

Almost all Mesozoic mammals were insectivorous. Insects are by far the largest group of organisms, both in terms of number of species and in biomass. They are marvelously diverse in habit and morphology. They provide a rich resource for anything that eats them, and their diversity alone suggests that their predators might exhibit similar variety. And so it is. Many mammals, including members of almost all orders, sometimes feed on insects.

Insectivores, members of the order Insectivora, are some of the smallest mammals in existence. Two hundred fifty of the three hundred fifty species of this order are shrews. Moles, tenrecs and hedgehogs make up the remainder. One of the largest members of this order, the solenodon (found in Cuba and Haiti) and some shrews secrete poison from a gland above their teeth to subdue prey. Although most insectivores eat insects exclusively, some prey on other invertebrates such as worms and small vertebrates. Insectivores are very beneficial to humankind because some consume up to three time their weight in insects per day.

The skulls of insectivores are often long and slender. The eye orbit is generally open posteriorly and the zygomatic arches (cheek bones) are reduced or absent. The teeth are generally primitive in structure and all teeth are rooted. The dental count is normally 44 to 48, with many variations.

Hedgehog Order: Erinaceomorpha Family: Erinaceidae Various species   Average Skull Length: 4.5cm / 1.8" Origin: Europe/Africa   Insectivore  I 3 2 C 1 1 P 3 2 M 3 3 x 2 =36 WSM-411 Natural Bone   Quality A: $72.00, Quality B: $62.00 WTQ-319 Skull - Replica Image Teaching Quality: $49.00

WSM-411 Natural Bone

Haitian Solenodon Order: Soricomorpha Family: Solenondontidae Solenodon paradoxus Skull Length: 9cm / 3.5" Origin: Hispaniola Insectivore  I 3 3 C 1 1 P 3 3 M 3 3 x 2 =40 WBC-053 Bone Clones® Replica Museum Quality: $84.00

WBC-053 Replica - Museum Quality

Cuban Solenodon Order: Soricomorpha Family: Solenondontidae Solenodon cubanus Skull Length: 8cm / 3.1" Origin: Cuba Insectivore  I 3 3 C 1 1 P 3 3 M 3 3 x 2 =40 WBC-052 Bone Clones® Replica Museum Quality: $84.00

WBC-052 Replica - Museum Quality

Mole Order: Soricomorpha Family: Talpidae Various species Average Skull Length: 3.5cm / 1.4" Origin: North America Insectivore  I 3 2 C 1 0 P 3 3 M 3 3 x 2 =36 WSM-412 Natural Bone Quality A: $30.00, Quality B: $26.00 WTQ-350 Replica Teaching Quality: $46.00 The following species are currently available: Eastern Mole, and European Mole.

WSM-412 Natural Bone

Shrew Order: Soricomorpha Family: Soricidae Various species Average Skull Length: 2.5cm / 0.9" Origin: North America Insectivore  I 3 1 C 1 1 P 3 1 M 3 3 x 2 =32 WSM-410 Natural Bone Quality A: $21.00, Quality B: $19.00 The following species are currently available: Pygmy Shrew, Masked shrew and Short-tail shrew.

WSM-410 Natural Bone

Short-Tailed Shrew Order: Soricomorpha Family: Soricidae Blarina brevicauda Skull Length: 2.5cm / 0.98" Origin: North America Insectivore  I 3 2 C 1 1 P 3 2 M 3 3 x 2 =32 WBC-79 Bone Clones® Replica Museum Quality: $30.00

WBC-79 Replica - Museum Quality

To View Our Currency Converter Click Here

To contact us by phone, In the United States and Canada call 1-800-659-SKULL
To contact us from outside North America please call 1-405-794-9300
You can Fax us at: 1-405-794-6985
E-Mail your comments and questions to: info@skullsunlimited.com

"In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment."
-Charles Darwin