Habitat loss isn’t too much of a problem for this group. Because moles prefer agriculture and gardens, they have adapted very well to human habitats. However, this also singles them out as annoying pests that can disrupt or ruin crops, even as they sometimes consume other insects and pests as well. This brings to mind images of uprooted plants and piles of soil. Of course, without further evidence, this might remain a “Just So” story. But there exist two mole species—the coast mole ( Scapanus orarius) and Townsend's mole ( S. townsendii)—that have short strips of sensory organs lying flat against the upper side of their noses, and these adult noses bear an uncanny resemblance to the embryonic star. These intermediate forms strongly suggest that such an ancestor gave rise to the full-fledged star we see today. However they came to be, these unlikely noses may help reveal much about the influence of innate developmental mechanisms and behavioral patterns on the organization of the cortex. These findings are especially intriguing in the case of the star-nosed mole because the pattern of use of the nose—as measured by how the mole touches prey with the different appendages—very closely matches the pattern of magnification for the appendage representations in the cortex. The correspondence suggests that behaviors may shape the way the cortex is organized. Alternatively, intrinsic developmental mechanisms may match the size of cortical maps to their behavioral significance. It is the classic question of nature versus nurture. The Developing Star IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. Accessed July 02, 2019. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41481/22320754. Gould, Edwin; Mcf Mammalogy, William (1993). "Function of the Star in the Star-Nosed Mole, Condylura cristata". Journal of Mammalogy. American Society of Mammalogists. 74 (1): 108–116. doi: 10.2307/1381909. JSTOR 1381909.

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Inside the Bizarre Life of the Star-Nosed Mole, World's Fastest Eater”. Accessed July 02, 2019. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/04/star-nosed-mole-touch-pain-senses/. The renowned physicist John Archibald Wheeler once suggested, “In any field, find the strangest thing and then explore it.” Certainly it is hard to imagine an animal much stranger than the star-nosed mole, a creature you might picture emerging from a flying saucer to greet a delegation of curious earthlings. Its nose is ringed by 22 fleshy appendages that are usually a blur of motion as the mole explores its environment. Add large clawed forelimbs, and you've got an irresistible biological mystery. How did this creature evolve? What is the star? How does it function, and what is it used for? These are some of the questions that I set out to answer about this unusual mammal. It turns out that the star-nosed mole has more than an interesting face; it also has a remarkably specialized brain that may help answer long-standing questions about the organization and evolution of the mammalian nervous system. To find a female to reproduce with, male moles will dig tunnels in areas they’ve never been, squealing in a high pitch to alert female moles to their presence. Tribe Condylurini (North American star-nosed mole) with the Condylura genus, which includes the star-nosed mole animal Many moles end up being hunted or poisoned by humans to prevent this kind of damage. A more humane strategy is to release noxious chemicals to drive them away or catch them in traps and transport them elsewhere. Usually, it is not the crops and plants they are consuming, but rather the worms and insects near those crops. The plants are mere casualties of the mole’s intense foraging behavior. Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

Mole Pictures

When food is plentiful, moles will also sometimes bite the head of the earthworm, which incapacitates it and keeps it from crawling away. Then the mole will stash its prey in a storeroom, along with any other earthworms it has caught recently. Threats to survival Although a name like the Asian shrew mole makes it confusing, this creature is indeed still a mole. It belongs to a sub-family of shrew-like moles native to Vietnam, Myanmar, and China’s forested regions. New World Moles – Scalopinae Although these summarized steps of mechanical transduction give a hint of how the star-nosed mole converts mechanical information into potential actions, the entire mechanism of transduction behind this intricate mechanoreceptor is still unknown and further studies are required.

Star Rail: In the Dangerous Muddy Swamp | Push Square Honkai: Star Rail: In the Dangerous Muddy Swamp | Push Square

All moles have eyes, and even the ones with the word “blind” in the species name can see. At their most basic, moles use their eyes to detect light. Since the animals are nearsighted and colorblind, their vision doesn’t come in handy for much else. Are Moles Dangerous? Many mole species possess surprisingly large home ranges, at least when compared with other small mammals. For example, a male eastern mole ( Scalopus aquaticus) in North America was recorded as inhabiting more than two acres. UV light from the sun can increase the chance of a mole becoming cancerous. If you have lots of moles, you need to be extra careful in the sun.

Townsend moles breed earlier than most mole species, mating in February or March. Pregnant females will gestate for about 30 days and then bear two to four pups in March or April.