# List of afrosoricids

Afrosoricida is an order of placental mammals. Members of this order are called afrosoricids, and include golden moles, otter shrews, and tenrecs. They are found in Africa, generally in forests, but also inland wetlands, shrublands, and grasslands. They range in size from the least shrew tenrec, at 4 cm (2 in) plus a 6 cm (2 in) tail, to the giant otter shrew, at 34 cm (13 in) plus a 39 cm (15 in) tail. Afrosoricids primarily eat invertebrates, particularly insects and earthworms, though some will also eat small lizards or other vertebrates. The golden moles have vestigial eyes covered with skin, and track their prey through vibrations rather than sight. No population estimates have been made for any afrosoricid species, though the De Winton's golden mole is classified as Critically Endangered and the giant golden mole, Gunning's golden mole, Jenkins's shrew tenrec, Juliana's golden mole, Marley's golden mole, northern shrew tenrec, and Van Zyl's golden mole are categorized as endangered species.
The fifty-five extant species of Afrosoricida are divided into two suborders, with Chrysochloridea containing the family Chrysochloridae, or golden moles, and Tenrecomorpha containing the families Potamogalidae, or otter shrews, and Tenrecidae, or tenrecs. Chrysochloridae is split into the subfamilies Chrysochlorinae, containing eleven species in six genera, and Amblysominae, containing ten species in four genera. Potamogalidae consists of three species in two genera, while Tenrecidae contains the subfamilies of Geogalinae, comprising a single species, Oryzorictinae, containing twenty-five species in three genera, and Tenrecinae, containing five species in four genera. The order as a whole was traditionally grouped with the hedgehogs, shrews, and moles as part of the order Lipotyphla, but modern molecular phylogenetic analysis resulted in that order being split into Afrosoricida and Eulipotyphla. Few extinct Afrosoricida species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization are not fixed.

## Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the afrosoricid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "†".

## Classification

The order Afrosoricida consists of two suborders, Chrysochloridea and Tenrecomorpha. Chrysochloridea consists of the family Chrysochloridae, or golden moles, and Tenrecomorpha contains the families Potamogalidae, or otter shrews, and Tenrecidae, or tenrecs. Chrysochloridae contains twenty-one species in ten genera, divided into two subfamilies. Potamogalidae consists of three species in two genera, while Tenrecidae contains thirty-one species in eight genera, divided into three subfamilies. Many of these species are further subdivided into subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
Suborder Chrysochloridea
* Family Chrysochloridae
** Subfamily Chrysochlorinae
*** Genus Carpitalpa (Arends' golden mole): one species
*** Genus Chlorotalpa (golden moles): two species
*** Genus Chrysochloris (golden moles): three species
*** Genus Chrysospalax (golden moles): two species
*** Genus Cryptochloris (golden moles): two species
*** Genus Eremitalpa (Grant's golden mole): one species
** Subfamily Amblysominae
*** Genus Amblysomus (narrow-headed golden moles): five species
*** Genus Calcochloris (yellow golden mole): one species
*** Genus Huetia (Central African golden moles): two species
*** Genus Neamblysomus (golden moles): two species
Suborder Tenrecomorpha
* Family Potamogalidae
** Genus Micropotamogale (dwarf otter shrews): two species
** Genus Potamogale (giant otter shrew): one species
* Family Tenrecidae
** Subfamily Geogalinae
*** Genus Geogale (large-eared tenrec): one species
** Subfamily Oryzorictinae
*** Genus Microgale (shrew tenrecs): twenty-one species
*** Genus Nesogale (shrew tenrecs): two species
*** Genus Oryzorictes (rice tenrecs): two species
** Subfamily Tenrecinae
*** Genus Echinops (lesser hedgehog tenrec): one species
*** Genus Hemicentetes (streaked tenrecs): two species
*** Genus Setifer (greater hedgehog tenrec): one species
*** Genus Tenrec (tailless tenrec): one species
Afrosoricida
Chrysochloridea
Chrysochloridae
Eremitalpa
Chrysochloris
Cryptochloris
Huetia
Chrysospalax
Calcochloris
Chlorotalpa
Amblysomus
Carpitalpa
Neamblysomus
Tenrecomorpha
Potamogalidae
Micropotamogale
Potamogale
Tenrecidae
Hemicentetes
Tenrec
Echinops
Setifer
Geogale
Oryzorictes
Microgale
Nesogale :

## Afrosoricids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.

### Suborder Chrysochloridea
#### Family Chrysochloridae
##### Subfamily Chrysochlorinae

Genus Carpitalpa – Lundholm, 1955 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Arends's golden mole | C. arendsi (Lundholm, 1955) | Mozambique and Zimbabwe | Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in) long Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Insects and earthworms | VU  Unknown |
Genus Chlorotalpa – Roberts, 1924 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Duthie's golden mole | C. duthieae (Broom, 1907) | Southern South Africa | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long Habitat: Forest, savanna, and grassland Diet: Earthworms | VU  Unknown |
| Sclater's golden mole | C. sclateri (Broom, 1907) Four subspecies C. s. guillarmodi C. s. montana C. s. sclateri C. s. shortridgei | South Africa and Lesotho | Size: 8–14 cm (3–6 in) long Habitat: Shrubland and grassland Diet: Eathworms and insect larvae | LC  Unknown |
Genus Chrysochloris – Lacépède, 1799 – three species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Cape golden mole | C. asiatica (Linnaeus, 1758) | Western South Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects and small invertebrates, as well as small lizards | LC  Unknown |
| Stuhlmann's golden mole | C. stuhlmanni Matschie, 1894 Three subspecies C. s. balsaci C. s. stuhlmanni C. s. stuhlmanni | Scattered central Africa | Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Earthworms and insect larvae, as well as other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Visagie's golden mole | C. visagiei Broom, 1950 | Western South Africa | Size: About 10 cm (4 in) long Habitat: Shrubland Diet: Unknown | DD  Unknown |
Genus Chrysospalax – Gill, 1883 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Giant golden mole | C. trevelyani (Günther, 1875) | Southern South Africa | Size: 20–24 cm (8–9 in) long Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Small invertebrates, especially giant earthworms and millipedes, as well as small vertebrates | EN  Unknown |
| Rough-haired golden mole | C. villosus (Smith, 1833) Six subspecies C. v. dobsoni C. v. leschae C. v. rufopallidus C. v. rufus C. v. transvaalensis C. v. villosus | South Africa | Size: 12–18 cm (5–7 in) long Habitat: Shrubland and grassland Diet: Small invertebrates, especially termites and earthworms | VU  Unknown |
Genus Cryptochloris – Shortridge, Carter, 1938 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| De Winton's golden mole | C. wintoni (Broom, 1907) | Western South Africa | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long Habitat: Shrubland Diet: Unknown | CR  Unknown |
| Van Zyl's golden mole | C. zyli Shortridge, Carter, 1938 | Western South Africa | Size: About 8 cm (3 in) long Habitat: Shrubland Diet: Unknown | EN  Unknown |
Genus Eremitalpa – Roberts, 1924 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Grant's golden mole | E. granti (Broom, 1907) Two subspecies E. g. granti E. g. namibensis | Western South Africa and Namibia | Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long Habitat: Shrubland and desert Diet: Termites and other insects, as well as roots and small lizards | LC  Unknown |

##### Subfamily Amblysominae

Genus Amblysomus – Pomel, 1848 – five species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Fynbos golden mole | A. corriae Thomas, 1905 Two subspecies A. c. corriae A. c. devilliersi | Southern South Africa | Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects | NT  Unknown |
| Highveld golden mole | A. septentrionalis Roberts, 1913 | Eastern South Africa | Size: 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates | NT  Unknown |
| Hottentot golden mole | A. hottentotus (Smith, 1829) Five subspecies A. h. hottentotus A. h. iris (Zulu golden mole) A. h. longiceps A. h. meesteri A. h. pondoliae | South Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Marley's golden mole | A. marleyi Roberts, 1931 | Eastern South Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects | EN  Unknown |
| Robust golden mole | A. robustus Bronner, 2000 | Eastern South Africa | Size: 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long Habitat: Shrubland and grassland Diet: Small insects and earthworms | VU  Unknown |
Genus Calcochloris – Mivart, 1867 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Yellow golden mole | C. obtusirostris (Peters, 1851) Three subspecies C. o. chrysillus C. o. limpopoensis C. o. obtusirostris | Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe | Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Insects as well as small lizards | LC  Unknown |
Genus Huetia – Forcart, 1942 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Congo golden mole | H. leucorhinus (Huet, 1885) Two subspecies H. l. cahni H. l. leucorhinus | Western Central Africa | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long Habitat: Forest Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates | DD  Unknown |
| Somali golden mole | H. tytonis (Simonetta, 1968) | Somalia | Size: Unknown Habitat: Savanna Diet: Unknown | DD  Unknown |
Genus Neamblysomus – Roberts, 1924 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Gunning's golden mole | N. gunningi (Broom, 1908) | Northern South Africa | Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in) long Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Earthworms | EN  Unknown |
| Juliana's golden mole | N. julianae (Meester, 1972) | Northern South Africa | Size: 9–11 cm (4 in) long Habitat: Savanna and grassland Diet: Earthworms and insects | EN  Unknown |

### Suborder Tenrecomorpha
#### Family Potamogalidae

Genus Micropotamogale – Heim de Balsac, 1954 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Nimba otter shrew | M. lamottei Heim de Balsac, 1954 | Mount Richard-Molard area in western Africa | Size: 12–16 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 9–14 cm (4–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Crabs and catfish, as well as insects and tadpoles | VU  Unknown |
| Ruwenzori otter shrew | M. ruwenzorii (de Witte, Frechkop, 1955) | Central Africa | Size: 12–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Insect larvae and worms, as well as small fish, frogs, and crabs | LC  Unknown |
Genus Potamogale – Du Chaillu, 1860 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Giant otter shrew | P. velox (Du Chaillu, 1860) | Central Africa | Size: 30–34 cm (12–13 in) long, plus 23–29 cm (9–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Fishes, crabs, shrimps, and water insects, as well as frogs | LC  Unknown |

#### Family Tenrecidae
##### Subfamily Geogalinae

Genus Geogale – Milne-Edwards, Grandidier, 1872 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Large-eared tenrec | G. aurita Milne-Edwards, Grandidier, 1872 Two subspecies G. a. aurita G. a. orientalis | Scattered Madagascar | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Ants, termites, and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |

##### Subfamily Oryzorictinae

Genus Microgale – Thomas, 1882 – twenty-one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Cowan's shrew tenrec | M. cowani Thomas, 1882 | Madagascar | Size: 6–10 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Drouhard's shrew tenrec | M. drouhardi Grandidier, 1934 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Dryad shrew tenrec | M. dryas Jenkins, 1992 | Northeastern Madagascar | Size: 17–18 cm (7–7 in) long, plus tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Invertebrates | VU  Unknown |
| Gracile shrew tenrec | M. gracilis (Major, 1896) | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 16–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Believed to be insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Grandidier's shrew tenrec | M. grandidieri Olson, Rakotomalala, Hildebrandt, Lanier, Raxworthy, Goodman, 2009 | Western Madagascar | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Believed to be insects and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Greater long-tailed shrew tenrec | M. principula Thomas, 1926 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in) long, plus 14–18 cm (6–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Jenkins's shrew tenrec | M. jenkinsae Goodman, Soarimalala, 2004 | Southwestern Madagascar | Size: 7–8 cm (3 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | EN  Unknown |
| Least shrew tenrec | M. pusilla Major, 1896 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 4–6 cm (2 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec | M. longicaudata Thomas, 1882 | Central and northern Madagascar | Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 11–16 cm (4–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Major's long-tailed tenrec | M. majori Thomas, 1918 | Madagascar | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 10–14 cm (4–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Montane shrew tenrec | M. monticola Goodman, Jenkins, 1998 | Northeastern Madagascar | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | VU  Unknown |
| Naked-nosed shrew tenrec | M. gymnorhyncha Jenkins, Goodman, Raxworthy, 1996 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 13–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, as well as small mammals, amphibians, vegetation, and potentially carrion | LC  Unknown |
| Nasolo's shrew tenrec | M. nasoloi Jenkins, 1999 | Western Madagascar | Size: About 8 cm (3 in) long, plus 5 cm (2 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | VU  Unknown |
| Northern shrew tenrec | M. jobihely Goodman, Raxworthy, Maminirina, Olson, 2006 | Eastern and northern Madagascar | Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | EN  Unknown |
| Pale shrew tenrec | M. fotsifotsy Jenkins, Raxworthy, Nussbaum, 1997 | Eastern and northern Madagascar | Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Pygmy shrew tenrec | M. parvula Grandidier, 1934 | Eastern and northern Madagascar | Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Short-tailed shrew tenrec | M. brevicaudata Grandidier, 1899 | Western and northern Madagascar | Size: 6–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 3 cm (1 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Insects and small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Shrew-toothed shrew tenrec | M. soricoides Jenkins, 1993 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 8–11 cm (3–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Taiva shrew tenrec | M. taiva Major, 1896 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Thomas's shrew tenrec | M. thomasi Major, 1896 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Web-footed tenrec | M. mergulus Major, 1896 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 12–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 11–17 cm (4–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Insects, as well as tadpoles and crayfish | VU  Unknown |
Genus Nesogale – Thomas, 1918 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Dobson's shrew tenrec | N. dobsoni (Thomas, 1884) | Eastern and northern Madagascar | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 10–11 cm (4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and ant eggs | LC  Unknown |
| Talazac's shrew tenrec | N. talazaci (Major, 1896) | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 4–13 cm (2–5 in) long, plus 4–16 cm (2–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects as well as frogs | LC  Unknown |
Genus Oryzorictes – Grandidier, 1870 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Four-toed rice tenrec | O. tetradactylus Milne-Edwards, Grandidier, 1882 | Southeastern Madagascar | Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Worms, insects, and other invertebrates | DD  Unknown |
| Mole-like rice tenrec | O. hova Grandidier, 1870 | Eastern and northern Madagascar | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: insects and earthworms, as well as plants | LC  Unknown |

##### Subfamily Tenrecinae

Genus Echinops – Linnaeus, 1753 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Lesser hedgehog tenrec | E. telfairi Martin, 1838 | Southwestern Madagascar | Size: 14–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 13–17 cm (5–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects and fruit | LC  Unknown |
Genus Hemicentetes – Mivart, 1871 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Highland streaked tenrec | H. nigriceps Günther, 1875 | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 12–16 cm (5–6 in) long Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Soft-bodied invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Lowland streaked tenrec | H. semispinosus (Cuvier, 1798) | Eastern Madagascar | Size: 13–19 cm (5–7 in) long Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Worms and other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
Genus Setifer – (Froriep, 1806) – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Greater hedgehog tenrec | S. setosus (Schreber, 1778) | Madagascar | Size: 16–23 cm (6–9 in) long, plus tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects, grubs, other invertebrates, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
Genus Tenrec – Lacépède, 1799 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Tailless tenrec | T. ecaudatus (Schreber, 1777) | Madagascar | Size: 26–39 cm (10–15 in) long Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Invertebrates, as well as vegetation, fruit, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals | LC  Unknown |