The mole is considered one of the strange and interesting organisms that live in some remote areas around the world. It is distinguished by its unique appearance and strange behavior, which makes it the focus of attention of many scientists and researchers. It is also considered a nocturnal animal with exceptional abilities that make it able to adapt to harsh environments.
There are many types of moles around the world, making them the subject of continuous studies and research to understand their behavior and environment, as they are considered an important part of the biological diversity in nature, and play a vital role in the balance of the ecosystem.
By studying and understanding these strange creatures, we can discover more about nature’s amazing wonders and secrets. Follow this article with us to discover all the information about this distinctive creature.
In this article in TekeTrek Website, we will introduce you to the most important information related to this object. Follow along with us.
About the mole
- The mole is a type of mammal that feeds on insects. It is a type of rodent that lives in the soil. It is found abundantly in agricultural lands, swamps, and high areas.
- The mole has small eyes, broad shovel-like hands, and strong shoulders. It does not have external ears and is distinguished by its high swimming ability. In addition, it is characterized by the presence of strong fangs designed to dig the ground and feed on roots and seeds.
Its most important types are
- The American type or shrew: It is characterized by its small size and short tail.
- Russian desman: It is considered one of the largest types of this species. It is an amphibious animal that lives underground and searches for its food in the water, because it has waterproof nostrils and ears.
- Star-nosed: So, called because of its star-like shape, this species lives in deep tunnels under the surface of the earth, and searches for its food in the water.
- The Eastern Mole: Native to Pennsylvania in America, it is distinguished by the shape of its pointed nose and bald head.
- Golden Mole: Found in South Africa, it is distinguished by its thick fur covering its body, in addition to its golden color.
What are the most important harms of moles?
Moles are considered harmful in some cases, especially when they destroy crops or attack livestock. Here are some of the damages that a mole may cause:
1. Destruction of crops: The mole can destroy crops such as agricultural fields and orchards when it searches for food.
2. Catching pets: Moles may attack pets such as chickens and rabbits, causing losses to their owners.
3. Transmission of diseases: A mole can be a carrier of many infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans or other animals.
4. Vandalizing property: A mole can cause vandalism to property such as cars or buildings when it uses its sharp nails to climb.
It should be noted that the mole has a role in the environment and natural balance, but when it causes significant damage, measures can be taken to control its numbers and reduce its impact on society and the environment.
What are the benefits of mole for the environment and ecosystem?
There are many advantages that the mole offers to its environment, here are the most important:
- It helps regulate the numbers of insects and rodents in the environment, reducing the effects of agricultural pests.
- It contributes to reducing the spread of infectious diseases by cleaning rotten corpses and preventing the proliferation of bacteria and parasites.
- It improves the quality of the soil through its secretions that contain nutrients that help nourish the soil.
- It has an effective role in improving soil aeration as it digs tunnels and helps improve plant growth.
- It encourages wildlife diversity in the area through its role in the food chain.
- It contributes to reducing the accumulation of decomposed organic materials in the environment and helps clean it.
- It contributes to preventing the spread of unpleasant odors from rotten corpses by cleaning them.
- It is considered an important source of food for predatory birds and large mammals.
- It contributes to recycling organic materials in the environment and converting them into nutrients for other organisms.
- It is considered a factor influencing the balance and health of the ecosystem in general.
The most frequently asked questions about moles?
There are many common questions that people ask, especially those interested in raising moles. Here are the most important ones:
- Who is the enemy of the mole?
Man is considered an enemy of the mole, as he hunts it and sets traps for it to get its skin.
- What does a mole do in the ground?
The mole works to aerate the soil and agricultural lands, in addition to its role in eating larvae that are harmful to crops.
- Who is the blind animal?
The naked mole rat is a blind animal.
- How tall and heavy is the mole?
The length and weight of the mole depends on its type. Its length ranges from 5 to 22 cm, and its weight ranges from 72 to 128 grams.
- What is the weak sense of the mole?
The mole is a nocturnal mammal, and therefore its sense of sight is relatively weak, as its eyes have small iris and therefore it cannot see clearly in daylight.
Instead, the mole has a keen sense of smell that helps it detect food and find mating partners, in addition to having sensitive ears that help it hear sounds in the dark.
- Does the mole give birth or lay eggs?
The mole belongs to the family of egg-laying mammals, where it lays eggs without giving birth and breastfeeding its young.
- What are the most important characteristics of a mole?
It has black fur covering its body, short front limbs with large claws in order to defend itself against dangers, a pink nose, and small eyes.
- What is the food of a mole?
The mole is characterized by its voracious appetite for food, and its food depends on invertebrates, especially worms such as earthworms. Its main food is small insect larvae in the summer and worms in the cold winters. It stores a quantity of worms in the winter in special rooms and then freezes them with a bite in the head.
- Is the mole active at night or during the day??
The mole is active throughout the day, as it makes no difference between day and night.
- What kind of animal is a mole?
Moles are small mammals.
Ultimately, it can be said that moles are an essential part of the ecosystem, providing many benefits to the environment and wildlife. We must care about protecting this small organism and benefit from its important role in improving the environment and maintaining biological balance.
Let us work together to preserve moles and preserve the diversity of living organisms in our environment, to ensure the continuity of life on our planet