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Side-by-side comparison of moles

From WhiskerWiki

Eight species in the family Talpidae are present in the United States, representing five genera—Condylura, Neurotrichus, Parascalops, Scalopus, and Scapanus. This page attempts to provide a standardized side-by-side comparison of interspecific variation (variation that occurs when comparing individuals of differing species), which can be helpful for identification. Standardized images for some species are not available, yet. For species not represented with an image here, images from the field are typically available on the individual species pages. Adults in summer pelage are shown unless otherwise noted. Note the scale for the Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii); this is the largest mole in North America. The American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) is the smallest mole in North America.

Condylura cristata (Star-nosed Mole)

Condylura is a genus of moles that contains a single extant species, the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata).

Neurotrichus gibbsii (American Shrew Mole)

Neurotrichus is a genus of moles that contains a single extant species, the American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii). It is the smallest species of mole in the Americas.

Parascalops breweri (Hairy-tailed Mole)

Parascalops is a genus of moles that contains a single extant species, the Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri).

Scalopus aquaticus (Eastern Mole)

Scalopus is a genus of moles that contains a single extant species, the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus). This species is found in the eastern part of the United States.

Scapanus

Species in the genus Scapanus are only found in the far western part of the United States, including California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Note the scale for Scapanus townsendii; this is the largest mole in North America.

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