| Hairy-tailed mole[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Talpidae |
| Tribe: | Scalopini |
| Genus: | Parascalops True, 1894[3] |
| Species: | P. breweri |
| Binomial name | |
| Parascalops breweri (Bachman, 1842) | |
 | |
| Hairy-tailed mole range | |
| Synonyms[5] | |
| |
Thehairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri), also known asBrewer's mole, is a medium-sizedNorth Americanmole. It is theonly member of thegenusParascalops.[1] The species epithetbreweri refers toThomas Mayo Brewer, an American naturalist.
Despite inhabiting North America, studies indicate that it is not closely related to the two other North Americanscalopine moles (Scalopus andScapanus), but rather to the twoChinese scalopine moles (Scapanulus andAlpiscaptulus). This indicates that the two Chinese moles likely descend from a migration from North America back into Eurasia, where the scalopine moles originated. Some studies have suggested placingParascalops,Scapanulus, andAlpiscaptulus into a single subtribe Parascalopina.[6]
_(7748318398).jpg)
This animal has dark grey fur with lighter underparts, a pointed nose and a short, hairy tail.[7] It is about 15 centimeters (5.9 in) in length, including a 3-centimeter-long (1.2 in) tail, and weighs about 55 grams (1.9 oz).[7] Its front paws are broad and spade-shaped, specialized for digging.[8] It has 44 teeth. Its eyes are covered by fur and its ears are not external.[8] Its feet and snout are pinkish, but become white in older animals.[7] Several adaptations to living primarily underground can be seen in the hairy-tailed mole. Its pelage is very dense and silky, and its feet are broad, flat, and heavy.[8] Moles rely very little on their eyesight and have very smalloptic nerves.[9] To accommodate its lack of vision, the hairy-tailed mole has sensitive whiskers and hairs on the tip of its nose and feet to feel its surroundings.[8]
It is found in forested and open areas with dry loose soils in easternCanada and the northeasternUnited States.[2] Since it is afossorial mammal, it needs moist but well-drained soil so that it can dig easily.[7] The hairy-tailed mole prefers deciduous and coniferous woods, oldfields, and roadsides.[7][2]
The hairy-tailed mole iscathemeral.[7] Since it lives primarily underground in shallow tunnels it can forage throughout the day and will also forage on the ground's surface at night.[7] The hairy-tailed mole is more active near the surface during warmer summer months and digs deeper underground in the cooler fall and winter months.[7]
This mole spends most of its time underground,foraging in shallowburrows for insects and their larvae and earthworms.[2] It emerges at night to feed. It is active year-round. Predators includeowls,foxes and large snakes.[10]
This animal is mainly solitary except during mating in early spring.[10] The female has a litter of 4 to 5 young in a deep burrow.[7][2] This mole may live 3 to 4 years.[10]
Hairy-tailed moles areinsectivores and have been shown to starve if vegetable matter is the only food source available.[10] The hairy-tailed mole's diet is mostlygrubs,earthworms,beetlelarvae,slugs, andants, particularly when other food sources are not available.[2][10]
Authority control databases: National |
|---|
