Knowra Star-nosed mole Star-nosed mole The star-nosed mole is a semiaquatic mole native to eastern North America. Its nose bears 22 fleshy appendages packed with touch receptors, enabling rapid exploration and prey detection.
Eimer's organs : Touch-sensitive structures in a mole's skin, formed from receptors, nerve endings, and specialized cells. They cover the nose's appendages and detect fine surface details.
Tactile sensing : The detection and interpretation of information through physical contact with surfaces or objects. The mole is a striking example of touch serving as its primary means of exploring prey.
Mole : A small burrowing mammal adapted for underground life, especially in the family Talpidae. The star-nosed mole is a distinctive member of this broader mammal group.
Aquatic foraging in star-nosed moles : The underwater search and capture of small prey by star-nosed moles. It demonstrates how the species uses touch while feeding below the surface.
Somatosensory system : The nervous system that processes bodily sensations, including touch, temperature, pain, and position. It carries signals from the nose's dense touch receptors to the brain.
Mechanoreceptor : A sensory receptor that responds to mechanical forces such as pressure, vibration, or stretch. Mechanoreceptors in the nose translate contact into nervous-system signals.
Talpidae : A family of insect-eating mammals that includes moles, shrew moles, and desmans. Its classification places the species among diverse subterranean and semiaquatic relatives.
Star-nosed mole prey capture : The rapid identification and consumption of prey using the star-nosed mole's nose and mouth. Its exceptionally fast handling of small prey connects tactile sensing to feeding performance.
Somatosensory cortex : A region of the cerebral cortex that processes sensory information from the body. Its enlarged representation of the nose supports unusually detailed tactile processing.
Sensory substitution : The use of one sensory channel to convey information usually acquired through another. The mole's tactile specialization shows how touch can guide behavior in visually limited settings.
Show all 21