Table of Contents
What does a mole do with its nose?
Moles do a lot of digging, as many gardeners know. But they don’t use whiskers to find their way around in the dark. Instead, they simply follow their noses. A new detailed study of tiny touch receptors, called “Eimer’s organs,” on the tip of a mole’s nose reveals how the animals do it.
How does the star-nosed mole use its nose to hunt?
The mole hunts by bopping its star against the soil as quickly as possible; it can touch 10 or 12 different places in a single second. With each touch, 100,000 nerve fibers send information to the mole’s brain. That’s five times more touch sensors than in the human hand, all packed into a nose smaller than a fingertip.
What is one fact about star nose mole?
Star-nosed moles have been shown to blow bubbles into the water and then re-inhale them through the nose in order to sniff for prey, making them the first mammal known to smell underwater. Star-nosed moles are not uncommon, just uncommonly seen, said Catania.
Do star-nosed moles have eyes?
They have very small eyes and are practically blind. Large front paws with thick claws are close to the head and aid the star-nosed mole in excavating tunnels that may run 100 ft. long. Unlike the 38 other mole species they do swim in their hunt for prey.
How do star-nosed moles communicate?
Certain mole species, particularly species that spend time above ground, make high-pitched sounds and have hearing adapted for high-pitched sounds. Immature star-nosed moles create high cries and the adults create wheezing noises, but the details of their communication abilities aren’t fully known.
How has the star-nosed mole adapted to its environment?
Star-nosed moles have shovel-like feet that are extremely large in comparison to their size. This adaptation allows them to dig their tunnels more quickly and effectively. They can excavate roughly 7 to 8 feet of soil in an hour. The further they travel underground, the more food they’re likely to come across.
Why is the star-nosed mole blind?
Because the star-nosed mole is functionally blind, the snout was long suspected to be used to detect electrical activity in prey animals, though little, if any, empirical support has been found for this hypothesis….
| Star-nosed mole | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Condylura |
| Species: | C. cristata |
| Binomial name | |
| Condylura cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Can star-nosed mole swim?
“They eat faster than any other mammals on Earth,” Catania says. What’s more, unlike the 38 other mole species, star-nosed moles can swim—and have the unique ability to smell underwater.
How do star-nosed moles smell underwater?
Summary: The star-nosed mole has several unusual abilities. One of them is “sniffing” underwater by blowing bubbles and quickly re-inhaling them, detecting odors of its prey through the water. The moles’ “star” nose features a ring of tiny, pink tentacles and is the most sensitive known touch organ of any mammal.
What is the predator of the star-nosed mole?
The life span of the star-nosed mole is not known. Predators: Raptors, including screech, great horned, long-eared, barred, and barn owls, and red-tailed hawks; mammals such as striped skunks, weasels, minks, and foxes; and fish such as the northern pike prey on this mammal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntPqCmWM8PE