Mole (animal)

Lore & Background

Moles have been known in Middle English as moldwarps, and later as mouldywarp, meaning 'dirt-tosser' in Germanic languages. Male moles are called boars, females sows. They are solitary creatures that come together only to mate, and territories may overlap but moles avoid each other, with males fighting fiercely if they meet.

Moles possess polydactyl forepaws with an extra thumb (prepollex) that develops from a transformed sesamoid bone, similar to the giant panda thumb. Their blood contains a special hemoglobin that tolerates higher carbon dioxide levels, allowing them to survive in low-oxygen burrows. They also reuse exhaled air.

Their diet consists mainly of earthworms and small invertebrates. Moles construct underground larders to store paralyzed earthworms, using saliva that contains a paralytic toxin. Before eating, they squeeze worms between their paws to remove dirt. The star-nosed mole can detect, catch, and eat food faster than the human eye can follow.

Reader's Guide

Moles are significant for their ecological contributions, including soil aeration, feeding on slugs and small creatures that eat plant roots, and providing prey for other wildlife. Though sometimes viewed as pests by gardeners, they play a positive role in soil health and ecosystems. Their classification has evolved: traditionally placed in the order Insectivora, they are now grouped with shrews and hedgehogs in the order Eulipotyphla. The family Talpidae includes true moles and shrew moles, with subfamilies such as Scalopinae (New World moles) and Talpinae (Old World moles). Unrelated burrowing animals like golden moles (Afrosoricida) and marsupial moles (Australia) have convergently evolved similar physical traits, such as shovel-like noses and abbreviated forepaws, but are distinguished by their distant evolutionary relationships. Golden moles share a closer common ancestor with elephants and aardvarks, while marsupial moles are more closely related to kangaroos and koalas.

Did You Know?

• Moles have an extra thumb (prepollex) on each forepaw, similar to the giant panda thumb.
• Their saliva contains a toxin that paralyzes earthworms, allowing them to store live prey in underground larders.
• The star-nosed mole can detect, catch, and eat food faster than the human eye can follow.
• Moles can tolerate higher levels of carbon dioxide than other mammals due to a special form of hemoglobin.