Mammalogy Moles and Shrews

Eulipotyphla

mole Order

Talpidae

mole Family

Condylura cristata

star nosed mole

Scalopus aquaticus

Eastern mole

Parascalops breweri

hairy tailed mole

Eulipotyphla

shrew Order

Sorididae

shrew Family

Sorex hoyi

pygmy shrew

Sorex cinereus

masked shrew

Sorex fumeus

smokey shrew

Sorex dispar

rock shrew / long tailed shrew

Sorex palustris

water shrew

Blarina brevicauda

northern short tailed shrew

I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 3/3

Dental formula of moles

Condylura cristata (star nosed mole)

35-75g

Condylura cristata (star nosed mole)

blackish brown pelage

• Condylura cristata (star nosed mole)

• Parascalops breweri (hairy tailed mole)

hairy tail

moles

scaly feet

Condylura cristata (star nosed mole)

65 mm tail

Condylura cristata (star nosed mole)

103 mm body

Condylura cristata (star nosed mole)

star shaped nose

moles

small auditory bullae

moles

thin zygomatic arch

Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole)

64-140 g

moles

teeth not pigmented

Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole)

light/dark grey pelage

Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole)

no hairy tail

Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole)

34 mm tail length

Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole)

175 mm

• Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole)

• Parascalops breweri (hairy tailed mole)

pointy shaped nose

Scalopus aquaticus (eastern mole)

round body

Parascalops breweri (hairy tailed mole)

40-64 g

Parascalops breweri (hairy tailed mole)

dark grey pelage

Parascalops breweri (hairy tailed mole)

19 mm tail length

Parascalops breweri (hairy tailed mole)

136 mm

Sorex hoyi (pygmy shrew)

3 visible unicuspids

shrews

pigmented teeth

Sorex hoyi (pygmy shrew)

2-4.5 g

Sorex hoyi (pygmy shrew)

grey pelage

Sorex hoyi (pygmy shrew)

44 mm tail length

shrews

no auditory bullae

shrews

no zygomatic arche

Sorex hoyi (pygmy shrew)

smallest shrew

• Sorex cinereus (masked shrew)

• Sorex fumeus (smokey shrew)

• Sorex dispar (long tailed / rock shrew)

• Sorex palustris (water shrew)

• Blarina brevicauda (northern short taild shrew)

4 visible unicuspids

Sorex cinereus (masked shrew)

3.5-5.5 g

Sorex cinereus (masked shrew)

brown pelage

Sorex cinereus (masked shrew)

41 mm tail length

Sorex cinereus (masked shrew)

short tail

Sorex fumeus (smokey shrew)

5.5-9.5 g

Sorex fumeus (smokey shrew)

grey / brown pelage

Sorex fumeus (smokey shrew)

42 mm tail length

Sorex fumeus (smokey shrew)

• use echolocation

• short tail

Sorex dispar (long tail / rock shrew)

4-6 g

• Sorex dispar (long tail / rock shrew)

• Blarina brevicauda (northern short tailed shrew)

grey or black pelage

Sorex dispar (long tail / rock shrew)

50-64 mm tail length

Sorex dispar (long tail / rock shrew)

long tail

Sorex palustris (water shrew)

10-18 g

Sorex palustris (water shrew)

black overcoat, white undercoat

Sorex palustris (water shrew)

68 m tail length

Sorex palustris (water shrew)

• semi aquatic

• hairy feet

Blarina brevicauda (northern short tailed shrew)

12-25 g

Blarina brevicauda (northern short tailed shrew)

18-30 mm tail length

Blarina brevicauda (northern short tailed shrew)

venomous

Blarina brevicauda (northern short tailed shrew)

• no external ear

• short tail