European Mole

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European Mole[1]

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Soricomorpha
Family: Talpidae
Genus: Talpa
Species: T. europaea
Binomial name
Talpa europaea
Linnaeus, 1758
Range map
Range map

The European Mole, Talpa europaea, is a mammal of the order Soricomorpha.

This mole lives in an underground tunnel system, which it constantly extends. It uses these tunnels to hunt its prey. Under normal conditions the displaced earth is pushed to the surface, resulting in the characteristic "mole hills".

It has a cylindrical body and is around 12 cm (5 1/4 inches) long. Females are typically smaller than males. The eyes are small, and hidden behind fur. Its ear is just a small ridge in the skin. The fur can be a multitude of colors - grey, yellow, orange, and white are most common.

Mole-hills

Portrait

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hutterer, Rainer (2005-11-16). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 308. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ Insectivore Specialist Group (1996). Talpa europaea. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-05-12. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
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