Parascalops breweri
| Hairy-tailed Mole
(Parascalops breweri) | |
|---|---|
| Range | |
 | |
| Taxonomic classification | |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Suborder: | Erinaceota |
| Family: | Talpidae |
| Subfamily: | Scalopinae |
| Tribe: | Scalopini |
| Genus: | Parascalops |
| Binomial details | |
| Parascalops breweri (Bachman, 1841) | |
| Other resources | |
| Full taxonomic details at MDD | |
Description
From Best & Hunt (2020): “The hairy-tailed mole is a medium-sized mole with a tail less than 25% of total length. The tail is constricted at the base and covered with coarse long hairs. Fur is gray to blackish and paler on the ventrum. The base of the rostrum, feet, and tail are dark brown and gradually turn white with age. The snout is shorter than that of other moles, imparting a triangular shape to the head. Eyes are tiny and hidden in the fur, and external ears are absent.”
External measurements
Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.
| Part of range | Reference | Total length | Tail length | Hindfoot length | Ear length | Mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Naughton (2012) | 138–170 | 25–33 | 15–20 | 40–65 | |
| Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland | Webster et al. (1985) | 139–169 | 23–36 | |||
| Great Lakes Region | Kurta (2017) | 150–170 | 23–36 | 18–20 | 40–64 | |
| New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania | Whitaker Jr. & Hamilton Jr. (1998) | 150–170 (n=20) | 24–30 (n=20) | 17–21 (n=20) | 40–64 | |
| Virginia | Linzey (1998) | 135–176 | 25–35 | 40–65 |
Skull
From Hallet (1978): "The skull is flat, depressed postorbitally, slightly constricted interorbitally, with a moderately broad braincase; zygomatic arch moderately heavy; pterygoid process small; auditory meatus absent; rostrum narrow, premaxillae extending beyond nasals and forming a truncate notch anterior to nasals; first upper incisor with distinct external accessory cusp...auditory bullae incomplete; first and second upper molars with a trilobed basal shelf, corresponding part of third molar bilobed."
Similar species
Parascalops breweri may co-occur with the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) and the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus). It is not easily confused with the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata), which has a distinct and unique fringe of pink nasal rays (sometimes referred to as tentacles) encircling the tip of the snout. It can be distinguished from Scalopus aquaticus by its tail. The tail of Parascalops breweri is densely covered with long coarse hairs. The tail of Scalopus aquaticus is scantily haired and appears naked. The skulls of Parascalops breweri and Scalopus aquaticus can easily be differentiated based on the size, shape, and spacing of the incisors. The skull of Condylura cristata is easily recognized by the size, shape, and spacing of the incisors as well as the tricuspidate edges of the upper molars.
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Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri) observed in Ontario, Canada, by Steve Marks. Notice that the tail is densely covered with long coarse hairs. -
Lateral view of the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) -
Ventral view of the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) showing the distinctive and unique fringe of pink nasal rays encircling the tip of the nose. -
Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus) observed in Texas by Brigid Berger. Notice that the tail is scantily haired and appears naked.
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Distribution of the Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri). -
Distribution of the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata). -
Distribution of the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus).
References
Best TL, Hunt JL. 2020. Mammals of the southeastern United States. Tuscaloosa (AL, USA): University Alabama Press.
Hallett JG. 1978. Parascalops breweri. Mammalian Species, (98), pp.1-4.
Kurta A. 2017. Mammals of the Great Lakes region. Ann Arbor (MI, USA): University of Michigan Press.
Linzey DW. 1998. The mammals of Virginia. McDonald & Woodward Publishing.
Naughton D. 2012. The natural history of Canadian mammals. Toronto (ON, CA): University of Toronto Press.
Webster WD, Parnell JF, Biggs WC. 1985. Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. Chapel Hill (NC, USA): University of North Carolina Press.