INSECRIVORES

INSECRIVORES (Insecrtivora), an order of mammals. There are more than 10 families known with 400 species. There are 14 species of 3 families (hedgehogs, moles and shrews) in the RB. Their minimal body length is 3.5 cm (small common shrew), the maximal body length is 31 cm (ordinary hedgehog), the body mass varies from 70 to 800 g. They are spread all over the RB territory. They mostly feed on invertebrates. They rarely eat plant fruits and seeds. Active at twilight and night. Hedgehogs fall into hibernation during winter. I. eat pest insects. Moles are material for fur industry. I. are intermediate hosts of ticks. Most of the species inhabit forests, meadows, territories near water reservoirs (Russian desman, water shrew) and steppes (long-eared hedgehog). The long‑eared hedgehog is included in the The Red List of the RB, the Russian desman is included in The Red List of the RF.