They are largely confined to the northern temperate zones of North America, Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, and southern Asia. Another group of small, terrestrial mammals which share many of the primitive features of Insectivora and Scandentia is the Order Macroscelidea, the elephant shrews of Africa. Apart from their small size, members of these three groups are characterised by their general tendency to feed on invertebrates, although many species also take a range of small amphibians, seeds and fruit. Most are opportunistic hunters. To assist with feeding, many species have developed additional specialisations, such as the paralysing bite of the mole or water shrew, as well as prey-caching behaviour among many terrestrial and fossorial species.
Most insectivores are highly secretive species and often nocturnal.
Their habitats range from and and semiand conditions to montane forests, and from semi-aquatic tendencies to living under desert and Arctic conditions. The majority are terrestrial, but some are fossorial, semifossorial, aquatic or even arboreal in habit. Combined with a small body size, their secretive nature has resulted in the majority of these species being neglected or overlooked in many field surveys. As a result, little is known about the distribution, behaviour or ecology of the majority of these animals. This Action Plan has been prepared as a first step to addressing this oversight.