Afrotheria

Afrotheria are a clade of mammals that has been proposed based on DNA analysis. Afrotheria are believed to have originated in Africa at a time when the continent was isolated from other continents. Their only externally visible common characteristic is the movable snout. The clades contained in Afrotheria are:

• Paenungulata: elephants, Sirenia and hyraxes
• Afrosoricida: tenrecs and golden moles
• aardvarks
• elephant shrews

Some Afrotherian clades are analogous to clades of mammals outside of Afrotheria; for example, Sirenia to whales, tenrecs to Insectivora, Paenungulata to other ungulates, aardvarks to anteaters.