Eulipotyphla

Eulipotyphla is a clade of small to medium-sized insectivorous placental mammals within the larger group Laurasiatheria. In many classifications it is treated as an order, distinct from the former grouping Soricomorpha. The group comprises four living families: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and gymnures), Solenodontidae (solenodons), Soricidae (true shrews), and Talpidae (moles and desmans). Some authorities recognize an additional family, Uropsilidae (Asian shrew-like moles), within Eulipotyphla, but its placement varies.

Eulipotyphlans are found across much of the world, with hedgehogs native to the Old World and solenodons confined to parts of the Caribbean. Shrews and moles are widely distributed in forests, grasslands, and subterranean habitats, often in temperate and tropical regions. The group is characterized by small size, an emphasis on tactile or chemical senses, and adaptations for insectivorous diets.

Ecology and biology vary among lineages. Hedgehogs and shrews hunt insects and other invertebrates; moles are primarily subterranean predators of earthworms and soil invertebrates; solenodons feed on invertebrates and small vertebrates. Solenodons are notable for venomous saliva delivered through grooved incisors, an unusual trait among mammals.

Evolution and classification: molecular data support a close relationship among these families within Laurasiatheria, with diversification occurring in the Paleogene. The group is of conservation concern; several species are threatened by habitat loss, pollution, and introduced predators. Notably, the Cuban solenodon and Hispaniolan solenodon are among the most endangered members of the clade.