Talpa (genus)
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 European Mole, (Talpa europaea)
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Talpa is a genus in the mole family Talpidae. Members of the genus are found primarily in Europe and western Asia. The common European Mole, found throughout most of Europe and Russia, is a member of this genus, as are several species restricted to small ranges. One, Père David's Mole, is critically endangered.
These moles eat worms, insects, and other invertebrates found in the soil.
The females of this genus have rudimentary male features such as Cowper's glands and a two-lobed prostate. A group of scientists suggests that they are true hermaphrodites;[2] however, others state that they are fully functional females.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ 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, 307-309. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Antonio Sánchez, Mónica Bullejos, Miguel Burgos, Concepción Hera, Costas Stamatopoulos, Rafael Díaz de la Guardia, Rafael Jiménez (1998-12-07). "Females of four mole species of genus Talpa (Insectivora, mammalia) are true hermaphrodites with ovotestes". Molecular Reproduction and Development 44: 289–294. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2795(199607)44:3<289::AID-MRD2>3.0.CO;2-I.
- ^ Beolchini F, Rebecchi L, Capanna E, Bertolani R, (2000-06-01). "Female gonad of moles, genus Talpa (Insectivora, mammalia): ovary or ovotestis?". J Exp Zool 286 (1): 745–54. doi:.
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