Talpinae

European Mole ( Talpa europaea)

• Desmane ( Desmanini )
• American Spitzmulle ( Neurotrichini )
• Long-tailed moles ( Scaptonychini )
• Actual moles ( Talpini )
• Japanese Spitzmulle ( Urotrichini )

The Altweltmaulwürfe ( Talpinae ) are a subfamily of the family of moles ( Talpidae ). This subfamily is composed of about 30 species, which can be divided into five generic groups:

• The authentics moles ( Talpini ) comprise approximately 25 species that live in Eurasia. Best known is the European mole.
• The long-tailed mole from East Asia is the only representative of Scaptonychini.
• The Japanese Spitzmulle ( Urotrichini ) include two endemic species in Japan.
• The American Spitzmull who lives on the Pacific coast of North America, is the only representative of Neurotrichini.
• The Desmane ( Desmanini ) are two living species in Europe, which are stronger than other moles adapted to aquatic life.

The Altweltmaulwürfe thus include with the exception of the shrew moles and the Gansu Mole all moles of Eurasia as well as with the American Spitzmull an American Art They are a diverse group: the Desmane are adapted to aquatic life, the Japanese and American Spitzmulle have in their Body similarities with the shrews, and tend to live above ground and the authentics Moles are perfectly adapted to an underground grave lifestyle.

Molecular genetic studies have confirmed the somewhat surprising composition of this group. After morphological aspects was formerly a close relationship between the authentics and the Neuweltmaulwürfen assumed that both are excellent adapted to underground life. Obviously, these similarities are based on convergence, and it is repeatedly come in the evolution of moles for the development of these forms. The similarities between Japanese and American Spitz Mullen should be based not on kinship but only on convergence.