Golden mole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden moles |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Afrosoricida |
| Suborder: | Chrysochloridea Broom, 1915 |
| Family: | Chrysochloridae Gray, 1825 |
| Genera | |
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Golden moles are small, furry mammals that live underground. They are found only in southern Africa. These animals mostly eat insects. They belong to a family called Chrysochloridae.
Even though they are called "moles," golden moles are actually different from the "true moles" found in other parts of the world. They look very similar because they have both adapted to living underground in similar ways. This is called convergent evolution, where different animals develop similar features because they live in similar environments.
Golden moles also look a lot like the marsupial moles that live in Australia.
Where Golden Moles Live
Golden moles spend almost all their lives underground. They dig tunnels in many different places. These include grasslands, forests, swamps, deserts, and even mountain areas.
What Golden Moles Look Like
Like many other animals that dig and live underground, golden moles have special features that help them.
- They have short legs with very strong claws for digging.
- Their fur is very thick and helps keep dirt and water away.
- Their skin, especially on their head, is tough.
- Their eyes do not work and are covered by skin and fur.
- Their ears are just tiny openings.
- They have a tough, leathery pad on their nose to protect their nostrils while digging.
Golden moles rely mostly on their sense of touch. They are very good at feeling vibrations in the ground. These vibrations can warn them if danger is coming close.
Images for kids
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A Cape golden mole, showing its digging claw and how its eyes are covered. You can also see the shiny fur.
See also
In Spanish: Crisoclóridos para niños
