Mole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moles |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Family: |
Talpidae
|
Moles are small mammals that live mostly underground. They are known for their amazing digging skills! You can find moles in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Contents
What are Moles?
Moles belong to a family of animals called Talpidae. They are special because they are adapted to a "fossorial" lifestyle. This means they spend most of their lives burrowing and living under the ground.
Amazing Adaptations
Moles have many cool features that help them live underground. Their fur is very soft and velvety. This helps them move forward or backward in their tunnels easily.
They have powerful front paws that are perfect for digging. These paws are very strong and shaped like shovels. Moles even have an extra "thumb" on each front paw. This extra bone helps them dig even better!
Moles do not have very good eyesight. They rely on their other senses, like smell and touch, to find their way around and hunt for food in the dark tunnels.
Where Do Moles Live?
Moles live in different habitats across North America, Europe, and Asia. They prefer places with soft soil where they can dig tunnels easily. This includes forests, grasslands, and even gardens.
What Do Moles Eat?
Moles are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Their main diet consists of insects, larvae, and worms. They use their excellent sense of smell to find food underground. Moles can eat a lot, sometimes almost their own body weight in a single day!
Types of Moles
There are many different kinds of moles in the world. The family of moles includes animals like shrew moles and desmans. In total, there are about 46 different species of moles.
The largest type of mole is the Russian desman. It is a semi-aquatic mole, meaning it spends time in water. The smallest type of mole is the American shrew mole. It is tiny, weighing less than a penny!
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Mole (desambiguación) para niños
