Raised tunnels in a lawn often lead to the mistaken belief that the animal responsible is a rodent feeding on plant roots. Moles are frequently grouped with other subterranean creatures that consume vegetation, such as voles, due to their underground lifestyle. This article clarifies the true dietary habits of the mole, a mammal whose unique adaptations are focused on hunting rather than grazing. We will examine the scientific classification of their diet and the specialized physical traits that allow them to thrive beneath the surface.
Understanding Dietary Labels
Mammals are broadly categorized based on their primary food source. A herbivore is an animal whose diet consists mainly of plants, including leaves, fruits, seeds, and roots. In contrast, a carnivore is defined by a diet consisting primarily of meat, which can range from small insects to large vertebrates. The term insectivore describes a specialized type of carnivore that sustains itself predominantly on insects and other small invertebrates. These classifications are based on the animal’s physical equipment and digestive system, reflecting the type of nutrients it is built to process.
The Mole’s Actual Diet and Classification
The mole is definitively not a herbivore; it is classified as an insectivore, placing it firmly within the broader category of carnivores. This small mammal belongs to the scientific order Eulipotyphla, which includes shrews and hedgehogs. Earthworms constitute the bulk of the mole’s sustenance, often making up 80 to 90 percent of its total food intake. The tunnels they dig function primarily as traps, which they patrol regularly to collect any invertebrates that have fallen inside.
Beyond earthworms, the mole’s diet includes other underground creatures such as beetle larvae, slugs, and various grubs. Moles possess a remarkably high metabolic rate, a necessity for their constant, energy-intensive tunneling. This high energy demand means a typical mole must consume nearly its entire body weight in food every day to survive. When food is abundant, moles paralyze earthworms by biting their heads and storing them alive in underground larders for later consumption.
Physical Traits for Hunting Underground
The mole’s anatomy is specialized for subterranean hunting, beginning with its powerful forelimbs. Its broad, shovel-like paws are rotated outward from the body, providing the leverage to “swim” through the soil in a breaststroke-like motion. These forepaws are equipped with large claws and an extra bone, called the os falciforme, which acts like an additional thumb to enhance digging efficiency. This specialized structure allows them to construct extensive tunnel networks rapidly, sometimes excavating a 49-meter burrow in a single night.
Since light is absent, moles rely heavily on an acute sense of touch to locate their prey. Their fleshy snout is tipped with thousands of microscopic sensory structures called Eimer’s organs. These organs provide an extremely sensitive tactile map of their surroundings, allowing the mole to detect the slightest movement of an earthworm or grub. For example, the star-nosed mole features a ring of 22 fleshy appendages on its snout, containing over 25,000 Eimer’s organs.