Talpidae

European Mole ( Talpa europaea)

• Shrew moles ( Uropsilinae )
• Neuweltmaulwürfe ( Scalopinae )
• Altweltmaulwürfe ( Talpinae )

The moles ( Talpidae ) are a mammalian family of the order Insectivora ( Eulipotyphla ). They comprise around 35 spread in Eurasia and North America species, the European mole is the only living species in Central Europe. Many, but not all moles carry a grave underground lifestyle. In addition, include the wasserbewohnenden Desmane and some mostly above ground living, shrew-like species ( shrew moles, the Japanese and the American Spitzmulle ) to this group.

• 3.1 Life forms
• 3.2 Social behavior and activity times
• 3.3 nutrition
• 3.4 Reproduction and life expectancy

• 4.1 Etymology
• 4.2 threat
• 4.3 Cultural references

• 5.1 Outer systematics
• 5.2 Internal systematics

Features

European moles show how all members of the authentics moles a well- adapted to the underground grave lifestyle physique.

General Body

Moles are generally rather small animals, they reach a body length 6-22 centimeters and a weight of 9-170 grams. ( The largest mole is the Russian Desman, the smallest representative of the shrew -like species. ) The tail length is variable: For species digging living it is relatively short, often it is covered with only a few hairs that act as tactile hairs and an orientation to the allow the rear. The shrew -like species and the Desmanen but the tail is the same length as the body, in the latter it is flattened to allow faster movement in the water.

The hull of moles is cylindrical, the tapered head sits on a very short neck, in which the second are fused to fourth cervical vertebrae. The coat is in the subterranean species only from wool hair with no stroke and brings about a soft, silky feel. You can crawl forward and backward by their narrow aisles alike. The Desmane however, also have a water- repellent outer coat. The fur color varies from light gray to various shades of brown to black. All species have skin glands, the most striking are probably the musk glands at the root of the tail Desmane.

Limbs

The limbs of the moles are short and each terminating in five clawed fingers or toes. Tibia and fibula are fused in the lower half.

The forelimbs of digging living species are transformed into grave tools. The palm -turned hands are shovel-shaped and end in five toes, in addition, they are reinforced by a sesamoid bone. The arms are far above the chest next to the head, they are short and fully incorporated into the body contour. The elbow joint is highly displaced in the shoulder region, it is not used to strengthen Grabezug, but only to position the hand. These animals have a unique among mammals articulated connection between the collarbone and upper arm. The grave of activities carried out by the rotation of the upper arm, which is performed by the well-developed arm muscles. The hind legs also contribute five toes, but are less specialized than the forelimbs. Moles have an additional crescent-shaped bone, which helps them to ditch their forequarters.

The limbs of the Desmane other hand, are adapted webbed and bristle-like hairs on the aquatic life of these animals. You are just like the little paws of the shrew -like types only suitable for digging, although these animals can often create their own burrows.

Head and teeth

The skull of moles is elongated and flat, characteristic is the long, trunk- like nose, which is very flexible and mostly hairless. The eyes of these animals are very small and partially covered by skin, outer ear missing in all species except the shrew moles.

The teeth of moles is like that of all insect-eaters with sharp cusps and sharp melting strips provided and well adapted to their predatory lifestyle. The number of teeth varies depending on the type of 34 to 44, some moles as the European mole preserves the original number of teeth of the Higher Mammals with 44 teeth. The construction and arrangement vary, but the molars are always dilambdodont (w- shaped arrangement of the cusps ). The primary dentition is often replaced before birth or shortly thereafter by the permanent teeth.

In the sensory perception of the sense of smell plays an important role. The snout region is rich in tactile cells, the so-called bucket 's organs ( after Theodor bucket ). So that they can probably perceive not only tactile stimuli, but also electrical stimuli. This means that they can feel the weak electric fields thus resulting in muscle movement of the prey. Most pronounced is this organ at the finger-shaped skin appending the Sternmulls.

Also, the detection is well developed despite the lack of ears, the sense of sight, however, plays only a minor role - most species are likely to only be able to distinguish between light and dark.

Internal Anatomy

The digestive tract is built very simply, as in all insectivores. The intestine is a simple tube and compared very briefly with the body length, the appendix is absent. As an adaptation to low-oxygen air in the duct systems of the hemoglobin content in the blood is significantly higher than in other mammals of similar size. In the construction of the reproductive tract show Moles matches with other insectivores: In the males, the testes are located outside the abdominal cavity in scrotum -like skin folds, the Cremaster wrinkles. The females have a bicornuate uterus (uterus bicornis).

Distribution and habitat

Moles are located exclusively in the northern hemisphere and mostly inhabit the temperate regions of Eurasia and North America. In Eurasia, they are spread from Britain and the Iberian Peninsula for much of the middle of Europe and Asia to Japan and the Malay Peninsula, in North America they come from the southern and eastern Canada to northern Mexico in the front. They live in various habitats but absent in polar and sub-polar regions and in dry areas too outspoken and high mountain regions.

Way of life

Life forms

The underground grave forming moles spend most of their lives in a self-dug, underground tunnel system. The excavated material will be placed mostly in the form of molehills to the surface. Depending on the nature and habitat of these transitions can extend just below the surface or even greater depths. In cooler regions moles keep in winter often in greater depth than during the warmer months. These animals create one or more nest chambers which are lined with plant material and are usually deeper than the aisles.

Moles have just by their grave activity (representing the fodenten - burrowing - Edaphons see also megafauna or shovel digger ) a certain amount of soil formation ( pedogenesis ). Sometimes you wear to the migration of the humic Ah horizons of the soils within the bioturbation. They also ship free humus subsoil material upwards. Through its loosening effect on the soil structure, they also favor the ventilation and also determines the drainage.

Most species are likely to be able to swim when necessary, aquatic species such as the Desmane and Sternmull looking even some of their food at the base of the aquatic environment. The shrew moles and Spitzmulle inhabit a greater extent the surface. You just dig burrows and no complex vein systems and looking mostly above ground for food. You can even climb bushes and sometimes also place there on their nests.

Social behavior and activity times

Moles are like most insectivores usually loners and react aggressively to conspecifics. Only a few species share transition systems with other dogs, they tolerate only near her, when food is abundant. Among the species which sometimes live in small groups, include, for example Desmane and Sternmull.

Like many other animals living underground have moles no pronounced day - night cycle. Thus, the activity time is divided into three waking and sleeping phases eg at the European mole, where the wax phases are usually morning, afternoon and midnight with a duration of about 4 to 5 hours. The aboveground moles can be diurnal as well as nocturnal, although often outweighs the night activity.

Moles do not hibernate. Animals that live in cooler regions, pull up during the winter months in deeper soil layers back or create a food supply. Thus, the European mole hoards earthworms in its construction. He bites them from the front body segments, so they can not flee, but stay alive.

Nutrition

The foraging can be done in several ways: digging in the ground, roaming the aisles, looking at the earth's surface, or ( at Desmanen and the Sternmull ) in the water. Which method is used depends on factors such as the type, the type of soil, the season, but also from the experience of the animal. The diet consists mainly composed of annelids, earthworms and insects and their larvae. Other invertebrates and occasionally small vertebrates round out the menu. To a lesser extent they also take plants (mainly their underground parts ) to itself. Moles have a high metabolic rate and need to take a day very much food. It is known from European mole he longer interruptions of feeding ( for 12 to 24 hours without food ) did not survive and daily consumed almost half its own weight of food.

Reproduction and life expectancy

Most species breed once a year on, usually the birth falls in the spring months. The gestation period is 28-50 days and the litter size from one to nine. Newborns are initially hairless and helpless, but grow quickly. After about 21 days their eyes open, after three to eight weeks they are weaned. Sexual maturity occurs in the second half year of life, so that they reproduce for the first time in the year after birth.

The life expectancy is relatively small and should not exceed three to six years with the fewest animals.

Moles and people

Etymology

The term "mole" has nothing to do with the mouth of the animals, but is derived from the word ' Mull, "an earth's shape. In this respect, one could translate Mole with " Erdwerfer ". An ancient name is " Mull " (compare English and Dutch mole mol), this word is found in some species such as the Mole Sternmull and the pointed Mullen. Also, not related, but ecologically similar living animals carry this designation as the Beutelmulle that Blindmulle, the mole-rats, the naked mole-rats, the golden moles or Gürtelmulle.

Threat

In earlier times, some mole species were hunted for their fur, but this practice is no longer relevant today. Today's conflicts between people and moles are mainly based on the digging activity of these animals. Although most species are carnivorous and eat no vegetable food, their grave lifestyle can cause damage to plant roots. Not infrequently use of rats and mice dug through them passages to get to the roots and tubers. The hills and tunnels can sometimes result in damage to mowing and harvesting equipment. In many cases purely visual reasons, can the moles act as " disturbing ". Sometimes the animals from these reasons, operators of agriculture be pursued. The habitat destruction poses a threat to some species dar.

The IUCN lists two species as " threatened with extinction " ( critically endangered ), and eight species are threatened as strong ( endangered ) or threatened ( vulnerable ).

Cultural references

The grave business of moles was the inspiration for the term " mole" for an informant who has disguised himself crept into an organization and there (hidden) information for its authority is purchasing or influenced the organization does in terms of its masterminds - see mole (Agent).

In animation and children's literature, there are some well-known fictional moles, so the figure of The Little Mole of Zdeněk Miler or one of the main characters in the children's classic The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and The Mole Grabowski from the children's book by Luis Murschetz.

In the field of animal fantasy also the work is considered the stone of Duncton the English author William Horwood, play the main characters in the moles, as classics of the genre.

In the children's television of the German Television came before next figures such as Mr. Fox and Mrs. magpie, raven master black rock in the fairy forest of the Maulwurfes Buddelflink.

System

The European mole is one of nine species of the Eurasian moles ( Talpa ), whose other representatives live in the Mediterranean and in northern and western Asia. The phylogenetic relationships within this genus are still largely unexplored. Together with five East and Southeast Asian genera, all of which have a similar physique and a similar way of life, it constitutes the generic group of authentics moles ( Talpini ).

Outer systematics

The moles are incorporated into the order of insectivores ( Eulipotyphla ). This order has a taxonomically highly controversial story over and over again taxa were one or outsourced. Long considered a close relationship between moles and shrews than likely. However, molecular genetic studies see the moles as the sister group of a common taxon from hedgehogs and shrews. Because of the uncertain position of the hedgehog these research results, however, are controversial.

Inside systematics

The decision taken on the basis of morphological criteria tripartite division of moles in underground digging living species, aquatic Desmane and aboveground, shrew -like animals does not meet the descent conditions. Although the shrew moles are likely to be the sister group of the remaining moles which also shrew -like Japanese and American Spitzmulle - which should in turn be related not particularly close to each other, but are the grave end authentics moles of the ancient world closer. This digging living authentics Moles are also closely related to the Desmanen as with the equally living digging Neuweltmaulwürfen, so there must have been at least twice to the development of highly specialized, subterranean tombs in the evolution of moles.

The following table shows the internal system up to the genus level again:

• Subfamily Uropsilinae Shrew moles ( Uropsilus ), 4 types

• Tribus Condylurini Sternmull ( Condylura cristata )

• Hair tail Mole ( Parascalops breweri )
• Ostamerikanischer Mole ( Scalopus aquaticus )
• Gansu Mole ( Scapanulus oweni )
• West American moles ( Scapanus ), three types

• Tribus Desmane ( Desmanini ) Russian Desman ( Desmana moschata)
• Pyrenean Desman ( Galemys pyrenaicus )

• American Spitzmull ( Neurotrichus gibbsii )

• Long-tailed Mole ( Scaptonyx fusicaudus )

• Southeast Asian moles ( Euroscaptor ), 6 species
• East Asian moles ( Mogera ), 5 types
• White-tailed Mole ( Parascaptor leucura )
• Short Facial Mole ( Scaptochirus moschatus )
• Eurasian moles ( Talpa ), 9 species, including the European mole ( T. europaea)

• Dymecodon pilirostris
• Urotrichus talpoides

Moles are fossil occupied since the Eocene, as the oldest representative shall be the genus found in Europe Eotalpa. In North America they are occupied since the Miocene since the Oligocene and in Asia.