The mole (Talpa europaea) is a small insectivorous mammal belonging to the order Insectivores. It is known for its distinctive appearance and exceptional skill in digging underground tunnels.
Coloring Book Mole
information
- Appearance: Moles have a stocky body covered with thick, soft fur that can be various shades of gray or brown. Their eyes and ears are small because they are adapted to living underground.
- Nutrition: The mole is an insectivorous mammal that feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects, larvae, spiders and earthworms. Its diet is entirely dependent on what it can find underground.
- Tunnels and digging: The mole is known for its amazing digging skills. Its front paws are strong and adapted for digging underground tunnels. Moles create intricate systems of passageways that they use for foraging, shelter and reproduction.
- Living area: Moles live underground and rarely come to the surface. Their tunnels can be located a few to several centimeters deep, up to several meters underground.
- Loneliness: Moles are solitary animals, and their territory is usually well-defined and they defend it from other individuals.
- Reproduction: Reproduction of moles depends on the season. In summer and early autumn, males and females come together to breed. Pregnancy lasts about four weeks, after which the female gives birth to young.
- Natural predators: Although moles rarely leave underground tunnels, they provide food for various predators such as owls, foxes, hawks, martens and many other animals.
- Agriculture: Moles can be considered a pest in agriculture because their digging can damage plant roots and affect soil structure. However, their presence can also help aerate the soil and contribute to the removal of pest insects.
- Mythology and Literature: Moles often appear in folklore, mythology and literature as symbolic figures or characters in stories.
- Threats: Moles are not considered an endangered species. In many regions, their populations are stable and well adapted to their environment.
trivia
- Extraordinary digging skills: Moles are extremely skillful diggers, able to dig a tunnel as long as 15 times their body length in an hour.
- Short-lived: The average lifespan of a mole is about 2-3 years. Many moles do not reach reproductive age due to high risks, such as predation or extreme weather conditions.
- Unique anatomy: The mole has specially built front paws that enable it to dig effectively. Its claws are large, curved and strong, ideal for moving soil when digging tunnels.
- Sense of touch: Moles have very sensitive vibrissae (vibrissae are special sensory hairs) on their noses that help them detect changes in the structure of the ground as they dig and search for food.
- Mole and diarrhea: Some cultural regions credit moles with the ability to predict diarrhea in humans. In folk beliefs, diarrhea was said to be a harbinger of rain, and the mole would sense it and come to the surface.
- Sense of sight: Despite popular belief, the mole is not completely blind. Although it has small eyes, it can respond to light and distinguish bright from dark areas.
- Kreci mound: A characteristic trace of the mole's activity is the mole mound, which is a small hillock of earth thrown from the tunnel to the surface. This is a sign that the mole was actively digging its tunnels.
- Impurity: The mole is a hygienic animal and regularly cleans its fur from the ground. When cleaning, it uses its claws and teeth.
- Scent communication: Moles communicate with each other through scents, leaving traces of pheromones in their territory and tunnels.
- Myths and tales: In different cultures, the mole can symbolize different qualities, from wisdom and mystery to industriousness and modesty. It also appears in many fairy tales and folk stories.