This article is about the mammals called "moles". For other uses, see Mole (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with vole, a small mouse-like rodent.
Moles are small mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have cylindrical bodies, velvety fur, very small, inconspicuous eyes and ears,[1] reduced hindlimbs, and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws adapted for digging.
The word "mole" refers to any species in the family Talpidae, from the Latin word for mole, talpa.[2] Moles are found in most parts of North America, Europe and Asia.[3]
Moles may be viewed as pests to gardeners, but they provide positive contributions to soil, gardens, and ecosystems, including soil aeration, feeding on slugs and small creatures that eat plant roots, and providing prey for other wildlife. They eat earthworms and other small invertebrates in the soil.[4][5]
^Riddle, Joseph Edmond (1838). A Complete English-Latin Dictionary, for the Use of Colleges and Schools. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans, Paternoster-Row; and John Murray, Albemarle Street. p. 193.
^Campbell, Kevin. "Mole Distribution Maps". University of Manitoba. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2010.