Burrowing insectivore of the family Talpidae. Moles grow to 18 cm/7 in, and have acute senses of hearing, smell, and touch, but poor vision. They have shovel-like, clawed front feet for burrowing, and eat insects, grubs, and worms.
Some members of the family are aquatic, such as the Russian desman Desmana moschata and the North American star-nosed mole Condylura cristata.
The eastern American mole Scalopus aquaticus, about 15 cm/6 in long, has blackish to coppery soft, dense fur and a long snout. Its eyes and ears are not visible externally. It excavates tunnels just under the surface, leaving raised ridges, in search of earthworms and insect larvae. + prikaži više