The Mole
Mole (animal)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about mammals called "moles". For other uses, see Mole (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Vole.
Moles
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Soricomorpha
Family: Talpidae in part
Genera
12 genera, see text
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes;[clarification needed] reduced hindlimbs; and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the order Soricomorpha found in most parts of North America,[1] Asia, and Europe although may refer to other completely unrelated mammals of Australia and southern Africa which have also evolved the mole body plan; it is not commonly used for some talpids, such as desmans and shrew-moles, which do not quite fit the common definition of “mole”.
Contents [hide]
1 Terminology
2 Characteristics
2.1 Breathing underground
2.2 Extra thumb
3 Diet
4 Breeding
5 Social structure
6 Classification
7 Other "moles"
7.1 The golden moles
7.2 Marsupial moles
8 Interaction with humans
8.1 Pelts
8.2 Pest status
8.3 Meat
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
Terminology[edit]
By the era of Early Modern English, the mole was also known in English as mouldywarp, a word having cognates in other Germanic languages such as German (Maulwurf),[2] and Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic (muldvarp, mullvad, moldvarpa), where the muld/mull/mold part of the word means soil and the varp/vad/varpa part means throw, hence "one who throws soil" or "dirt tosser".
Male moles are called "boars", females are called "sows". A group of moles is called a "labour".[3]
Characteristics[edit]
[icon] This section requires expansion. (July 2011)
Breathing underground[edit]
Moles have
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about mammals called "moles". For other uses, see Mole (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Vole.
Moles
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Soricomorpha
Family: Talpidae in part
Genera
12 genera, see text
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes;[clarification needed] reduced hindlimbs; and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the order Soricomorpha found in most parts of North America,[1] Asia, and Europe although may refer to other completely unrelated mammals of Australia and southern Africa which have also evolved the mole body plan; it is not commonly used for some talpids, such as desmans and shrew-moles, which do not quite fit the common definition of “mole”.
Contents [hide]
1 Terminology
2 Characteristics
2.1 Breathing underground
2.2 Extra thumb
3 Diet
4 Breeding
5 Social structure
6 Classification
7 Other "moles"
7.1 The golden moles
7.2 Marsupial moles
8 Interaction with humans
8.1 Pelts
8.2 Pest status
8.3 Meat
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
Terminology[edit]
By the era of Early Modern English, the mole was also known in English as mouldywarp, a word having cognates in other Germanic languages such as German (Maulwurf),[2] and Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic (muldvarp, mullvad, moldvarpa), where the muld/mull/mold part of the word means soil and the varp/vad/varpa part means throw, hence "one who throws soil" or "dirt tosser".
Male moles are called "boars", females are called "sows". A group of moles is called a "labour".[3]
Characteristics[edit]
[icon] This section requires expansion. (July 2011)
Breathing underground[edit]
Moles have