Scalopinae
Encyclopedia
The Scalopinae, or New World moles, are one of three subfamilies of the Talpidae
family, which consists of moles and mole-like animals; the other two subfamilies being the Old World Talpids (the Talpinae
) and the Chinese Shrew-like Moles (Uropsilinae
). The Scalpidae are the only Talpidae subfamily to consist entirely of undisputed moles
and no mole-like close relatives such as shrew-moles or desmans. They are found virtually everywhere soil conditions permit in North America, except northern Canada and those areas of northeastern Mexico where the soil isn't too sandy. There is also one species which lives in China.
Talpidae
The family Talpidae includes the moles, shrew moles, desmans, and other intermediate forms of small insectivorous mammals of the order Soricomorpha...
family, which consists of moles and mole-like animals; the other two subfamilies being the Old World Talpids (the Talpinae
Talpinae
The subfamily Talpinae, sometimes called "Old World moles" or "Old World moles and relatives", is one of three subfamilies of the mole family Talpidae, the others being the Scalopinae, or New World moles, and the Uropsilinae, or shrew-like moles....
) and the Chinese Shrew-like Moles (Uropsilinae
Uropsilinae
The Uropsilinae are shrew-like members of the mole family endemic to the forested, high-alpine region bordering China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. They possess a long snout, a long slender tail, external ears, and small forefeet unspecialized for burrowing...
). The Scalpidae are the only Talpidae subfamily to consist entirely of undisputed moles
Mole (animal)
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes; and short, powerful limbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the...
and no mole-like close relatives such as shrew-moles or desmans. They are found virtually everywhere soil conditions permit in North America, except northern Canada and those areas of northeastern Mexico where the soil isn't too sandy. There is also one species which lives in China.
Taxonomy
The Scalopininae are divided into two tribes, five genera, and seven species:- Tribe Condylurini
- Genus Condylura, the star-nosed mole
- Tribe ScalopiniScalopiniThe Scalopini are a tribe of moles belonging to the Talpidae family. They include all the New World moles apart from the strikingly distinctive Star-nosed Mole...
- Genus Scalopus, the common Eastern mole
- Genus ScapanusScapanusScapanus is a genus of moles in the family Talpidae. They live in North America from west of the Rockies south to Baja California del Norte, and north to British Columbia, wherever conditions permit a mole population; that is to say, apart from the most sandy, rocky, or developed places...
, three species of western moles - Genus Parascalops, the Hairy-tailed Mole
- Genus Scapanulus, the Gansu Mole