The name Insectivora refers to the diet of most members of this order, but some Insectivores are quite omnivorous or carnivorous. This order does not comprise a particularly large number of members, but it is difficult to classify. This is the most primitive order of placental mammals. The modern insectivores' skull and teeth, size, and habits are similar to those of the ancient, small nocturnal insectivores that lived along with dinosaurs.
Insectivores are generally small.
They range over most of the world's land surface except for the Australian and southern neotropical regions, Antarctic and most oceanic islands.