Mammal Web Page

The Hairy-tailed Mole
http://www.nenature.com/Hairytailedmole.htm
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Vertebrata
Order	Mammalia
Family	Talpidae
Genus	Parascalops
Species	Parascalops breweri

Description of the Hairy-tailed mole

Hairy-tailed moles are most distinguishable from other moles by their hairy tale, short snout, and the lack of protuberances on the snout. The length of the head and body is 116 to 140mm, and the length of it's tail is 23 to 36mm. When Hairy-tailed moles become adults, they weigh from 40-85 grams. The fur is soft and thick, colored blackish. There usually are white spots on the belly. The snout, tail, and feet often become pure white with age. The snout has a middle horizontal groove on the front half. There are no external ears, and the eyes are barely visible from the fur. the palms of hands of the Hairy-tailed mole are as wide as they are long. The tail is thick and fleshy with scales covered with long hairs. Males are slightly physically larger than females.

The Hairy-tailed Mole's Habitat

Hairy-tailed moles are mainly found in hardwood forests and meadows. The soil is usually light and well drained. Their habitat is usually elevated from the seal level to about 900 meters. Usually two to eleven Hairy-tailed moles live in an acre. Hairy-tailed moles interact with their environment by digging underground tunnels in the dirt.

The Hairy-tailed Moles' Geographic Range

Hairy-tailed moles are found from southern Quebec and Ontario to the middle of Ohio, and south as far as the western part of North Carolina. They mainly stay in the East of the USA.

The Hairy-tailed Moles' Diet

Hairy-tailed moles are insectivores. Their main diet consists of earthworms, ants, beetle larvae, centipedes, and small rootlets. Ants are important when other food items are scarce. Some natural predators are the Red Fox, copperhead snake and opossum.

The Hairy-tailed Moles' lifecycle

Hairy-tailed moles mate in march or April. Throughout the year, they produce one litter a year. Females become reproductive at 10 months. The litter size is usually four to five off-springs. An estimated gestation period is four to six weeks. Weaning happens when Hairy-tailed moles are about three to four weeks old. Hairy-tailed moles average lifespan in the wild is three years old. In captivity their average lifespan is three to four years.

What a Hairy-tailed Mole Needs For Survival

The Hairy-tailed mole needs a few basic things for survival. It needs to reproduce, or produce off-spring. It needs to have its food items, for example earthworms. Last, it needs a place to live, which in this case is hardwood forests and meadows. Also, the Hairy-tailed moles need to be hunted by their natural predators, like the copperhead snake.

Interesting Facts About the Hairy-tailed Mole

1.Hairy-tailed moles use underground tunnels as passageways.

2.The Red Fox, copperhead snake, and opossum are predators to the Hairy-tailed mole.

3.The Eastern Mole is a similar species to the Hairy-tailed mole.

4.The Front feet of the Hairy-tailed mole are as wide as they are long.

5.Hairy-tailed moles are highly specialized for underground life.

6.Hairy-tailed moles can be active during any season, any hour.

Human Impact On Hairy-tailed Moles

Humans are destroying the habitat of the Hairy-tailed mole by cutting down the hardwood forests, part of the Hairy-tailed moles' habitat and uncontrolled development in If we wipe out the Hairy-tailed moles, we will have way too many earthworms, ants, beetles, and centipedes.

Description	Habitat	Range	Food	Life Cycle
Survival	Facts	Human Impact	References	Links