Star-nosed moles
نویسنده
چکیده
What are star-nosed moles? The star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata, is one of about 30 species of mole in the mammalian order Insectivora. Although they are rarely seen, they are relatively common in the wetlands of eastern North America and Canada. They weigh about 30–50 grams and have large clawed forelimbs for digging their extensive underground burrows. Like most other moles, they give birth to a single litter of four to six young in the spring. Moles in general have small eyes and make their living through touch, eating invertebrates that they identify by feel in the soil.
منابع مشابه
Body oxygen stores, aerobic dive limits and diving behaviour of the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) and comparisons with non-aquatic talpids.
The dive performance, oxygen storage capacity and partitioning of body oxygen reserves of one of the world's smallest mammalian divers, the star-nosed mole Condylura cristata, were investigated. On the basis of 722 voluntary dives recorded from 18 captive star-nosed moles, the mean dive duration (9.2+/-0.2 s; mean +/- S.E.M.) and maximum recorded dive time (47 s) of this insectivore were compar...
متن کاملThe sense of touch in the star-nosed mole: from mechanoreceptors to the brain.
Star-nosed moles are somatosensory specialists that explore their environment with 22 appendages that ring their nostrils. The appendages are covered with sensory domes called Eimer's organs. Each organ is associated with a Merkel cell-neurite complex, a lamellated corpuscle, and a series of 5-10 free nerve endings that form a circle of terminal swellings. Anatomy and electrophysiological recor...
متن کاملBrain Mass and Cranial Nerve Size in Shrews and Moles
We investigated the relationship between body size, brain size, and fibers in selected cranial nerves in shrews and moles. Species include tiny masked shrews (S. cinereus) weighing only a few grams and much larger mole species weighing up to 90 grams. It also includes closely related species with very different sensory specializations - such as the star-nosed mole and the common, eastern mole. ...
متن کاملFasting metabolism and thermoregulatory competence of the star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata (Talpidae: Condylurinae).
Metabolic and body temperature (Tb) responses of star-nosed moles (Condylura cristata) exposed to air temperatures ranging from 0 to 33 degrees C were investigated. The thermoneutral zone of this semi-aquatic mole extended from 24.5 to 33 degrees C, over which its basal rate of metabolism averaged 2.25 ml O2 g-1 h-1 (45.16 J g-1 h-1). This rate of metabolism is higher than predicted for terrest...
متن کاملIndigenous to moist organic soils bordering on creeks, lakes
and wetlands, the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) is one of the most distinctive mammals anywhere on Earth. Extensively distributed throughout eastern Canada and northeastern USA, star-nosed moles are reported to inhabit subarctic regions as far north as the fifty-fifth parallel (Peterson and Yates, 1980). Active year-round, C. cristata is chronically exposed to low ambient temperatures th...
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ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Current Biology
دوره 15 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2005