star-nosed mole

(Condylura cristata)

Conservation Status
star-nosed mole
Photo by Gerry G
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
 
Description
 
 

Star-nosed mole is a relatively common but seldom seen New World mole. It occurs in North America from Newfoundland to Pennsylvania, west to Ontario and Minnesota, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina. It is less common in Minnesota, where it is at the western extent of its range.

The fur (pelage) is coarse, thick, and dark brown or black with no silvery sheen.

The tail is hairy, 3 to 3½ long, and constricted near the body.

The front feet are as long as broad. The palms face outward.

The eyes are small, about the size of a pinhead, but apparent, not covered by skin. There are no external ears. The nose is pink and is surrounded by 22 pink, fleshy, finger-like projections, giving it a star-like appearance.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: 6 to 8

Head and body: 4½ to 5

Tail: 3 to 3½

 
     
 

Sign

 
 

 

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is larger but has a shorter tail and so is about the same total length. The pelage is lighter and has a silvery sheen. The nose is long, naked, and pointed, and has no finger-like appendages.  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Meadows, floodplains, swamps, marshes, and peatlands. Moist soil. Usually near a water body.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Behavior

 
 

They are active day and night.

 
     
 

Lifespan

 
 

3 to 4 years

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The female has one litter of 3 to 7 young between April and June. The offspring are independent after 3 weeks. They mature in 10 months.

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Small invertebrates, earthworms, aquatic insects, mollusks, and small amphibians.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 15, 29, 30, 76.

 
  6/23/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Relatively common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Mammalia (mammals)  
  Subclass Theria  
  Infraclass Eutheria (placental mammals)  
  Magnorder Boreoeutheria  
  Superorder Laurasiatheria (ungulates, carnivorans, and allies)  
  Order Eulipotyphla (shrews, moles, hedgehogs, and allies)  
 

Family

Talpidae (moles and desmans)  
 

Subfamily

Scalopinae (New World moles)  
  Tribe Condylurini  
 

Genus

Condylura (star-nosed moles)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

northern star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata cristata)

southeastern star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata parva)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

star-nosed mole

starnose mole

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Pelage

The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Gerry G

 
 

Dog brought to the door Feb 23 2021

 
    star-nosed mole   star-nosed mole  
           
 
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slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Mammals of the World: Star-nosed Mole
cre8ivmind
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Dec 2, 2010

The Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) is the 83rd species in my Mammals of the World series.

   
  Is This the World's Weirdest-Looking Killer? | World's Deadliest
Nat Geo WILD
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 25, 2013

Looking like a cross between a rat and an octopus, the star-nosed mole is a good candidate for the title of world's weirdest-looking creature. Its super-senses also make it a lethal hunter.
➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoWILDSubscribe
➡ Watch all clips of World’s Deadliest here: http://bit.ly/Worldsdeadliest
➡ Get More World’s Deadliest: http://bit.ly/WorldsDeadliest

About World's Deadliest:
World’s Deadliest Predators is a new series that looks at most riveting moments of animal predation, breaking down the struggle for survival and supremacy into five action-packed episodes. Top Hunters focuses on the most feared animals in their class: animals at the top of their food chain; the hunters who are prey to no other animal. Killer Packs illustrates when predators multiply their advantage over prey by banding with others of their species to hunt. Lethal Weapons shows that the physical attributes and built-in concealed weapons have the ability to make an animal a top predator. Our Superpowers episode focuses on the animals that see, hear, and smell better than any others…and that relative to their size on are the fastest and strongest creatures on the planet. And whether it is over food, territory or sex, animals go to war within their species and against other species…Battles dissects these conflicts, from the strategy to the play-by-play. These five episodes bring together dozens of species, which are extraordinary, savage, and the World’s Deadliest Predators.

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About Nat Geo Wild:
Welcome to a place so wild, anything can happen. Nat Geo Wild is the network all about animals from National Geographic, where every story is an adventure and your imagination is allowed to run wild.

Is This the World's Weirdest-Looking Killer? | World's Deadliest
https://youtu.be/myh5WjGTc8U

Nat Geo Wild
https://www.youtube.com/user/NatGeoWild

   
  Starnose Mole (Talpidae: Condylura cristata) Dead on Footpath
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jul 28, 2010

"Darkness within darkness--the gateway to all understanding." --Tao Te Ching Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (28 July 2010).

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this mammal.

 
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Be sure to include a location.
 
 

M Reigstad
6/13/2022

Location: Ham Lake

My dog found it in my garden. Worried that it may carry disease.

 
  Field Notes
6/15/2021

Location: Carver Park, Carver County

Found on path near a stream. No signs of injury. Perhaps an off-leash dog?

 
  Gerry G
2/23/2021

Location: Douglas County, MN

Dog brought to the door Feb 23 2021

fisher

 
  Lisa Wiersma
1/22/2020

Location: Erskine, MN (Polk County)

These are common in my backyard. I usually see them at least once a year over the last 10 years.

 

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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Created 1/23/2017

Last Updated:

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