Afrotheria (also known as Afrotheres, Afrotherian Mammals): A placental mammal superorder that contains ELEPHANTS; MANATEES; DUGONGS; SIRENIANS; HYRAXES; AARDVARKS; elephant shrews (Macroscelidea); TENRECS; Golden moles (Chrysochloridae). Largely classified based on DNA sequence afrotherian mammals are diverse in morph

NIH MeSH · D000091122Organisms

Afrotheria

Also known asAfrotheres · Afrotherian Mammals · Afrotherian Mammal · Mammal, Afrotherian · Macroscelidea · Elephant Shrews · Elephant Shrew · Shrew, Elephant · Chrysochloridae · Golden Moles · Golden Mole · Mole, Golden

Definition

A placental mammal superorder that contains ELEPHANTS; MANATEES; DUGONGS; SIRENIANS; HYRAXES; AARDVARKS; elephant shrews (Macroscelidea); TENRECS; Golden moles (Chrysochloridae). Largely classified based on DNA sequence afrotherian mammals are diverse in morphology but share some common anatomical features (e.g., appearance of four‐lobed ALLANTOIS and long and mobile snout).

MeSH classification

  • B01.050.150.900.649.313.250

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Common questions about Afrotheria

What does Afrotheria mean in medicine?
A placental mammal superorder that contains ELEPHANTS; MANATEES; DUGONGS; SIRENIANS; HYRAXES; AARDVARKS; elephant shrews (Macroscelidea); TENRECS; Golden moles (Chrysochloridae). Largely classified based on DNA sequence afrotherian mammals are diverse in morphology but share some common anatomical features (e.g., appearance of four‐lobed ALLANTOIS and long and mobile snout). This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Afrotheria known by any other names?
Yes. Afrotheria is also referred to as Afrotheres, Afrotherian Mammals, Afrotherian Mammal, Mammal, Afrotherian in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Afrotheria sit in the medical classification?
Afrotheria falls under the broader medical category "Organisms" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: B01.050.150.900.649.313.250). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Afrotheria?
For a plain-language explanation of Afrotheria - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Afrotheria" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000091122) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗