Pictures of African animals

Pictures of African Animals Golden Mole and Golden Mole Informations

Pictures of African Animals Golden Mole and Golden Mole Informations

Golden Mole is a small insectivorous burrowing mammal native to South Africa. Golden moles almost exclusively live underground beneath grasslands, forests, swamps, deserts or mountainous terrains.

Like other burrowing mammals, golden moles have short legs with powerful digging claws, very dense fur that repels dirt, moisture, and toughened skin. Eyes are non-functional and covered with skin and fur. Ears are just tiny openings. They have muscular shoulders. Golden moles have an enlarged third claw on the forelimbs to aid digging. Fifth digit is absent and first and fourth digits are vestigal. Hind feet retain all five toes, which are webbed to allow efficient backward shoveling of the soil loosened with the front claws. Touch is the primary sense of golden moles. They are very sensitive to vibrations that may indicate approaching danger. Size of golden moles is about 8 to 20 cm. They feed on small insects that are searched with the sense of hearing. Majority of the species construct permanent burrows while the desert species can swim through loose sand. Burrows created by golden moles could be as deep as one meter below the ground.