If you’re fascinated by moles and curious about other animals that share similar traits—whether it’s their burrowing habits, subterranean lifestyles, or unique adaptations—this list is for you. We explore 13 different animals like moles, highlighting what makes each one special and why they deserve your attention beyond their underground homes.
Star-Nosed Mole (Condylura cristata)
Native to the wetlands of eastern North America, the star-nosed mole is instantly recognizable by the 22 fleshy appendages surrounding its snout. These tentacle-like structures are highly sensitive touch organs, allowing the mole to detect prey with incredible speed—some of the fastest tactile responses in the animal kingdom. This adaptation makes it a fascinating example of evolutionary specialization among burrowing mammals.
European Mole (Talpa europaea)
Common throughout much of Europe, the European mole is well-known for its extensive tunnel systems that aerate soil and influence local ecosystems. It has powerful forelimbs adapted for digging and a velvety fur that can lie in any direction to facilitate movement underground. Despite its reputation as a garden pest, it plays a vital role in controlling insect populations.
Golden Mole (Family Chrysochloridae)
Golden moles are a group of burrowing mammals native to southern Africa, notable for their iridescent, metallic fur and highly reduced eyes covered with skin and fur. Unlike true moles, they belong to a different order (Afrosoricida) but share convergent traits like digging adaptations and subterranean lifestyles. Their ability to “swim” through sand by undulating their bodies is a remarkable adaptation to desert and dune environments.
Starling’s Shrew Mole (Uropsilus soricipes)
Found in the mountainous forests of China, this rare mole-like mammal resembles a shrew but exhibits mole-like burrowing behavior. It has a pointed snout and small eyes, adapted to a life spent mostly underground or under leaf litter. Its unique evolutionary lineage offers insight into the diversity of mole-like mammals in Asia.
American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii)
The American shrew mole is the smallest mole species in North America and shows characteristics intermediate between true moles and shrews. It has a more terrestrial lifestyle compared to other moles and tends to forage above ground as well as underground. This species highlights the diversity of adaptations within mole-like mammals.
Desert Hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus)
Though not a mole, the desert hedgehog shares some subterranean habits, such as burrowing to escape the heat. Native to arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East, it uses its digging ability to create burrows in sandy soil. Its spiny coat and nocturnal behavior further differentiate it, but its burrowing lifestyle aligns it with mole-like animals.
Common Shrew (Sorex araneus)
While shrews are more closely related to moles than to rodents, they generally live above ground but share similar diets of insects and worms. The common shrew has a high metabolism and sharp teeth for capturing prey, and some species dig shallow burrows or use existing tunnels. Their close evolutionary relationship to moles makes them an interesting comparison.
Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)
Native to arid regions of northern Syria and southern Turkey, the golden hamster is an adept digger, creating extensive burrow systems underground. Though primarily known as pets, wild hamsters use burrows for food storage and protection, much like moles. Their burrowing behavior and solitary nature make them a notable mole-like species among rodents.
European Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius)
Water voles are semi-aquatic rodents that burrow into riverbanks and dikes, creating complex tunnel networks underwater and on land. Their digging behavior and subterranean nests link them ecologically to moles, despite different diets and habitats. They play a crucial role in riparian ecosystems and face conservation challenges in parts of Europe.
Blind Mole Rat (Spalax spp.)
Blind mole rats are subterranean rodents native to Eastern Europe and the Middle East, adapted to life underground with no functional eyes and powerful digging claws. Unlike moles, they are herbivorous and create extensive tunnel systems that can stretch for hundreds of meters. Their ability to thrive in low-oxygen environments makes them a unique example of subterranean adaptation.
Common Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpidae family)
Though an insect rather than a mammal, the mole cricket shares the mole’s burrowing lifestyle and has specialized forelegs for digging. Found worldwide in moist soils, mole crickets create tunnels that can damage crops but also aerate soil. Their nocturnal habits and distinctive chirping calls make them an intriguing mole-like animal from a different class.
Golden Mole (Chrysochloris asiatica)
One of the more studied species of golden moles, Chrysochloris asiatica inhabits the coastal regions of South Africa. They possess a leathery pad on their snouts to aid in digging and have no external ears, an adaptation to their subterranean environment. Their shimmering fur is thought to help camouflage them in sandy soils.
Sandfish Skink (Scincus scincus)
While not a mammal, the sandfish skink is a reptile that “swims” through desert sand using lateral undulations, much like a mole moves through soil. Native to North African deserts, it uses its smooth, shiny scales and wedge-shaped snout to burrow rapidly. Its unique locomotion offers a reptilian parallel to mole-like subterranean movement.
How to Choose
When comparing animals like moles, consider what traits matter most to you: Are you interested in their burrowing behavior, sensory adaptations, ecological roles, or evolutionary relationships? For example, if you want an animal with extreme tactile abilities, the star-nosed mole is unmatched. If you’re fascinated by subterranean rodents, blind mole rats offer insight into a different evolutionary path. Habitat and geographic range also influence which species you might encounter or study. Finally, some animals like mole crickets or sandfish skinks highlight convergent evolution, showing how diverse species adapt similarly to underground or sandy environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are moles harmful to gardens?
They can be, as they create tunnels that may disturb plant roots, but they also help control insect populations and aerate soil, which benefits garden health overall.
Q: Do all mole-like animals live underground?
Most do, but some, like certain shrews or water voles, spend significant time above ground or in aquatic environments, using burrows mainly for shelter.
Q: How do star-nosed moles find food so quickly?
Their star-shaped snout has over 25,000 sensory receptors called Eimer’s organs, enabling them to detect and identify prey in milliseconds.
Q: Are golden moles related to true moles?
No, golden moles belong to a separate order (Afrosoricida) but evolved similar burrowing adaptations independently, an example of convergent evolution.
Q: Can mole crickets damage crops?
Yes, their tunneling and feeding on roots can harm plants, making them pests in some agricultural areas.
Q: Why do some mole-like animals have reduced eyesight?
Living underground where light is scarce, many mole-like animals have evolved reduced or non-functional eyes to conserve energy and protect them from dirt.
Final Thoughts
Exploring animals like moles reveals a fascinating array of adaptations shaped by life underground or in similar niches. From the highly specialized star-nosed mole to burrowing rodents and even insects and reptiles, each species offers unique insights into survival beneath the surface. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, student, or gardener, understanding these creatures enriches your appreciation for the hidden world beneath our feet.
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