Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Talpidae Scientific Name : Talpidae Size : 12 - 15 cm (4.7 - 5.9in) Weight : 250 - 550g (8.8 - 19.4oz) Top Speed : 6km/h (4mph) Life Span : 3 - 6 years Colour : Brown, Grey, Black, White Skin Type : Fur Special Features : Long curved claws and pointed snout
- Moles are small mammals found in Asia, Europe, South Africa and North America.
- They use their long, curved claws to dig underground burrows and are known to create long tunnels very quickly.
- There is typically a mound of soil marking the entrance to the tunnel and the mound is called a mole hill.
- There are around 20 species of moles found in the world with some of them being aquatic or semi aquatic moles.
- Most of the moles appear to be similar and vary only in size.
- The star nosed mole is a species of mole which has a star shaped ending to its snout.
- Moles are omnivores feeding mainly on earthworms and insects.
- There is a certain type of toxin in their saliva which paralyses the worms and insects, helping the moles to feed.
- Some of the larger moles also prey on small mice by catching them at the entrance of their burrows.
- Their natural predators are various mammals, birds and reptiles.
- They have very small eyes and ears but have an exceptionally keen sense of smell.
- Some of the mole species are known to detect and devour their prey within a second.
- The female mole gives birth to 2-6 babies after a month-long gestation.
- The mole babies are dependent on their mother for the first month after which they fend for themselves.
- Sometimes, the moles are accidentally killed by gardeners while using a spade.