Hairtail mole
Hairtail mole | ||||||||||||
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Hairtail mole, illustration |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
Parascalops | ||||||||||||
True , 1894 | ||||||||||||
Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
Parascalops breweri | ||||||||||||
( Bachman , 1842) |
The hair- tailed mole ( Parascalops breweri ) is a species of mammal from the mole family (Talpidae) living in eastern North America .
features
Hairtail moles reach a head body length of 12 to 14 centimeters, a tail length of 2.3 to 3.6 centimeters and a weight of 40 to 85 grams. Their physique is adapted to a digging way of life, the trunk is cylindrical and the front limbs are transformed into digging tools. As with most moles, the head is characterized by the pointed snout, the eyes hidden in the fur and the lack of auricle. The fur is black, and there are often white spots on the chest and stomach. In old animals, the snout, feet and tail can be colored white. The name-giving feature is the fleshy tail, covered with long hair.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the hairtail moles extends from southern Ontario and Québec to Ohio and North Carolina . They inhabit light, rather moist soils in forests and grasslands.
Lifestyle and diet
Like all New World moles , these animals lead an underground burrowing way of life. They build tunnel systems underground and bring the excavated material to the surface in the form of molehills . The corridors run on several levels; in summer they are in the tunnels close to the surface, while in winter they advance to greater depths. A room padded with plants serves as a resting place. Like many moles, they don't have a distinct day-night rhythm.
The diet of these animals consists of insects and their larvae as well as earthworms .
Reproduction
Once a year the female gives birth to four or five young animals after a gestation period of four to six weeks. These are suckled for around a month and reach sexual maturity in the second half of their life. The oldest animals found were estimated to be four years old.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web links
- Parascalops breweri in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Insectivore Specialist Group, 1996. Accessed on 13/02/2007.