STAR NOSED MOLE - CONDYLURA CRISTATA

What is this?

The star-nosed mole is a North American mole found in soaking areas .Star-nosed moles are easily recognized by the eleven pairs of pink fleshy appendages.

ATTRACTION

• It is the rarest of the three moles in the park.

• It is the GOLDEN MOLE of south America.

• It is the powerful swimmer.

• It consists of 22 thickset rays.

• It can identify, catch and eat food faster than the human eye can pursue.

APPEARENCE

Moles are soft, silky, and they are well brushed in front and back. The hair of the star-nosed mole ranges from blackish-brown .The long-haired tail is constricted close to the base it is extremely thin-skinned organ. They are rich in nerves and blood vessels and they are used for detecting possible food items. It is having a the ability to block its nose with its nose.It is more sensitive,The tiny frontage limbs possess feet that are greatly engorged for digging. There is no external ears. It is having a poor smell.

• Adult total length: 6 to 8 inches
  

• Tail: 2.6 to 3.4 inches

• Weight: 12 lbs
  

IS IT A NOSE?

The star-nosed mole has very poor eyesight .To compensate, perhaps, it is having a highly specialized bulge which explodes from a naked pink disc on an otherwise fur-covered face.It is the tactile and more sensitive as a human hand i.e., fingers/feelers. Except these fingers it also have something in common with eyes too.

OCCURANCE

It is mostly founded near north America,Asia and Europe

INTERESTING FACTS

• They are invertebrates.

• They burrow tunnels through the moisture soil.

• The mating of these moles take place during winter and spring.

• Their growth period is about 45 days.

• The little ones are born in between April - June. The female mole produces a 4-5 young ones.

• The young moles become autonomous and start hunting for themselves within a month.

DIET

Insects, earthworms, mollusks, crustacean,aquatic,terrestial.

The eatable they are eating normally depends upon where they are living.

PREDATORS

Snakes, hawks, owls, and carnivorous mammals such as skunks are the major predators.