Northern broad-footed mole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern broad-footed mole |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Scapanus
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| Species: |
latimanus
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| Northern broad-footed mole range (includes S. occultus) | |
The northern broad-footed mole (Scapanus latimanus) is a small, burrowing mammal that lives mostly underground. It's a type of mole found only in the United States. You can find it in parts of northern California, Nevada, and Oregon. These moles live in areas up to about 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level.
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How Scientists Classify This Mole
For a long time, scientists thought the northern broad-footed mole lived in a much larger area. They believed its home stretched all the way down to northern Baja California, Mexico. There was even a separate group of these moles thought to live further south in Sierra de San Pedro Martir.
However, after studying these moles more closely, scientists discovered something new! They found that the moles living in southern California and northern Baja California are actually a different species. They named this new species the southern broad-footed mole (S. occultus). The moles in Sierra de San Pedro Martir were also found to be their own unique species, called the Mexican mole (S. anthonyi).
Because of these new discoveries, we now know that the northern broad-footed mole (S. latimanus) lives only in the United States. Scientists are always learning more and sometimes change how they classify animals!
Different Types of Northern Broad-footed Moles
Even within the northern broad-footed mole species, there used to be up to 12 recognized subspecies. A subspecies is like a slightly different version of an animal within the same species. Think of different breeds of dogs – they are all dogs, but look a bit different.
After the southern and Mexican moles were identified as separate species, scientists looked at the remaining subspecies. They found that many of them were actually the same. Now, only four subspecies of the northern broad-footed mole are recognized: S. l. latimanus, S. l. minisculus, S. l. insularis, and S. l. parvus.
What Does a Northern Broad-footed Mole Look Like?
The northern broad-footed mole has soft, plush-like fur. Its fur can be dark brown or silvery, and it's the same color all over its body. These moles have short, cylindrical bodies and a long, pointed snout.
Special Features for Digging
One of the most noticeable things about these moles are their front feet. They are very wide with flat palms and strong, long claws. These powerful front paws are perfect for digging! Their tail is short and has only a few coarse hairs.
Size and Diet
Adult northern broad-footed moles are usually about 5.5 to 7 inches (14 to 18 centimeters) long from head to tail. Males are typically a little bit bigger than females. Moles living in wetter areas tend to be larger than those in drier, southern regions.
Like most moles, they need moist, loose soil to live in. This is because they mostly eat earthworms, insects, and other small creatures without backbones (invertebrates). They might also eat some plant material.
Life Underground
The northern broad-footed mole is a fossorial mammal. This means it spends almost its entire life living below the ground. Each mole usually has its own burrow system. If a burrow is left empty, another mole often moves in within a couple of days.
How Moles Dig Their Tunnels
Moles dig their main tunnels deep underground. When they dig, they push the extra dirt out through shafts that go up to the surface. This dirt forms distinct, volcano-shaped mounds on the ground. The older dirt is usually at the bottom of the mound, and the newer dirt is pushed out at the top.
Sometimes, moles also dig shallow tunnels just below the surface. You can often see these as raised ridges in the soil. We don't know exactly how often these shallow tunnels are used, as moles use them irregularly.
