| Status | LC |
|---|---|
| Status system | IUCN3.1 |
| Genus | Scalopus |
| Parent authority | É. Geoffroy, 1803 |
| Species | aquaticus |
| Authority | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Synonyms | Sorex aquaticus Linnaeus, 1758 |
The eastern mole or common mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is a medium-sized North American mole. It is the only species in the genus Scalopus. It is found in forested and open areas with moist sandy soils in northern Mexico, the eastern United States and the southwestern corner of Ontario in Canada.
Description
The eastern mole has grey-brown fur with silver-grey underparts, a pointed nose and a short tail. It is about 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in length including a 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long tail and weighs about 75 grams (2.6 oz). Its front paws are broad and spade-shaped, specialized for digging. It has 36 teeth. Its eyes are covered by fur and its ears are not visible.
The eastern mole spends most of its time underground, foraging in shallow burrows. It feeds on earthworms, grubs, beetles, insect larvae, and plant matter. The mole is mainly solitary except during mating in early spring. The female has a litter of two to five young in a deep burrow.
In Canada, the eastern mole is limited to about 2,600 acres in southern Ontario, primarily in Essex and Kent Counties. It prefers soft, sandy, or muddy soils and avoids clay or gravel, making its suitable habitat limited.[2]
Subspecies
A majority of the moles throughout their range are S. a. aquaticus. All the other subspecies exist in small pocket ranges.
| Subspecies | Name | Range |
|---|---|---|
| S. a. aquaticus | Eastern mole | Throughout the mainland United States and Canada |
| S. a. anastasae | Anastasia Island mole | Anastasia Island, a small close-to-shore island off of St. Augustine, Florida.[4] |
| S. a. bassi | Englewood mole | The area within and surrounding Englewood, Florida.[5] |
| S. a. texanus | Presidia mole | The Rio Grande near and between the Cibolo and Alamito Creeks.[6] |
Predation
Occasionally, when eastern moles do exit their burrows, they may be spotted and eaten by red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, domestic dogs, domestic cats, raccoons, red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, broad-winged hawks, eastern screech-owls, barred owls, and barn owls.[7]
See also
- Rockport virus, a virus first discovered in eastern moles
References
- ^
- ^ Waldron, G. (2000). "Range, habitat, and population size of the Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus, in Canada.". The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 114 (3): 351–358. doi:10.5962/p.363987
- ^ "Explore the Taxonomic Tree"
- ^ "Anastasia Island Mole (Scalopus aquaticus anastasae) mEAMOa_CONUS_2001v1 Habitat Map - ScienceBase-Catalog"
- ^ "Mammalogy 39436: Scalopus aquaticus bassi"
- ^ "Presidio Mole (Scalopus aquaticus texanus) mEAMOt_CONUS_2001v1 Habitat Map - ScienceBase-Catalog"
- ^ Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole). Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Scalopus_aquaticus/