List of talpids

Talpidae is one of the four families of small mammals in the order Eulipotyphla. A member of this family is called a talpid and the family includes moles, shrew moles, and desmans. Talpids are found in North America, Europe, and Asia, primarily in forests, shrublands, grasslands, and wetlands, though some species can also be found in deserts or coastal areas. They range in size from the Chinese shrew mole, at 6 cm (2 in) plus a 5 cm (2 in) tail, to the Russian desman, at 22 cm (9 in) plus a 22 cm (9 in) tail. Talpids primarily eat earthworms, insects, and other invertebrates, but some also consume fish, mollusks, amphibians, crustaceans, plants, and fungi. No talpids have population estimates, but the Pyrenean desman and Echigo mole are categorized as endangered species, while the Russian desman is categorized as critically endangered.

The forty-five extant species of Talpidae are divided into three subfamilies: Scalopinae, containing seven mole species in five genera, Talpinae, containing thirty-three mole, shrew mole, and desman species in eleven genera, and Uropsilinae, containing four shrew mole species in a single genus. A few extinct prehistoric Talpidae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.^[1]

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the talpid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

The family Talpidae consists of three subfamilies: Scalopinae, containing seven mole species in five genera, Talpinae, containing thirty-three mole, shrew mole, and desman species in eleven genera, and Uropsilinae, containing four shrew mole species in a single genus.

Family Talpidae

• Subfamily Scalopinae
  • Genus Condylura (star-nosed mole): one species
  • Genus Parascalops (hairy-tailed mole): one species
  • Genus Scalopus (eastern mole): one species
  • Genus Scapanulus (Gansu mole): one species
  • Genus Scapanus (western moles): three species
• Subfamily Talpinae
  • Genus Desmana (Russian desman): one species
  • Genus Dymecodon (True's shrew mole): one species
  • Genus Euroscaptor (Asiatic moles): seven species
  • Genus Galemys (Pyrenean desman): one species
  • Genus Mogera (East Asian moles): seven species
  • Genus Neurotrichus (American shrew mole): one species
  • Genus Parascaptor (white-tailed mole): one species
  • Genus Scaptochirus (short-faced mole): one species
  • Genus Scaptonyx (long-tailed mole): one species
  • Genus Talpa (European moles): eleven species
  • Genus Urotrichus (Japanese shrew mole): one species
• Subfamily Uropsilinae
  • Genus Uropsilus (shrew-like moles): four species

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.^[3]

Genus Condylura – Illiger, 1811 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Star-nosed mole	C. cristata (Linnaeus, 1758)	Eastern United States and Canada	Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and inland wetlands[5] Diet: Aquatic invertebrates, as well as other invertebrates, crustaceans, mollusks and small fish[6]	LC  Unknown [5]

Genus Parascalops – True, 1894 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Hairy-tailed mole	P. breweri (Bachman, 1842)	Eastern United States and Canada	Size: 13–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 3 cm (1 in) tail[7] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[8] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates[7]	LC  Unknown [8]

Genus Scalopus – Geoffroy, 1803 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Eastern mole	S. aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Four subspecies S. a. anastasae (Anastasia Island mole) S. a. aquaticus (Eastern mole) S. a. bassi (Englewood mole) S. a. texanus (Presidia mole)	Eastern and central North America	Size: 14–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[9] Habitat: Forest and grassland[10] Diet: Insects and earthworms, as well as plants[9]	LC  Unknown [10]

Genus Scapanulus – Thomas, 1912 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Gansu mole	S. oweni Thomas, 1912	Central China	Size: 9–11 cm (4 in) long, plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail[11] Habitat: Forest[12] Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates[11]	LC  Unknown [12]

Genus Scapanus – Pomel, 1848 – three species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Coast mole	S. orarius (True, 1896) Two subspecies S. o. orarius S. o. schefferi (Scheffer's coast mole)	Western United States and Canada	Size: 13–19 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[13] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and coastal marine[14] Diet: Earthworms, as well as other invertebrates, mollusks, plants, and fungi[13]	LC  Unknown [14]
Northern broad-footed mole	S. latimanus (Bachman, 1842) Six subspecies S. l. anthonyi (Mexican mole) S. l. insularis S. l. latimanus S. l. minusculus S. l. occultus (Southern broad-footed mole) S. l. parvus	Western United States and Mexico	Size: 11–19 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 2–6 cm (1–2 in) tail[4] Habitat: Grassland, savanna, and forest[15] Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates[4]	LC  Unknown [15]
Townsend's mole	S. townsendii (Bachman, 1839)	Western United States and Canada	Size: 11–19 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 2–6 cm (1–2 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest and grassland[16] Diet: Earthworms, as well as other invertebrates and plants[17]	LC  Unknown [16]

Genus Desmana – Güldenstädt, 1777 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Russian desman	D. moschata (Linnaeus, 1758)	Western and central Asia	Size: 18–22 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 17–22 cm (7–9 in) tail[18] Habitat: Inland wetlands[19] Diet: Fish, mollusks, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects[18]	CR  Unknown [19]

Genus Dymecodon – True, 1886 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
True's shrew mole	D. pilirostris (True, 1886)	Japan	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[20] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[21] Diet: Worms, insects, and other invertebrates[20]	LC  Unknown [21]

Genus Euroscaptor – Miller, 1940 – seven species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Greater Chinese mole	E. grandis Miller, 1940	Southern China	Size: About 15 cm (6 in) long, plus 10 cm (4 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest[23] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [23]
Himalayan mole	E. micrura (Hodgson, 1841)	Southern Asia	Size: 12–14 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest[25] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [25]
Japanese mountain mole	E. mizura (Günther, 1880)	Japan	Size: About 10 cm (4 in) long, plus 2 cm (1 in) tail[24] Habitat: Forest and grassland[26] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [26]
Kloss's mole	E. klossi (Thomas, 1929)	Southeastern Asia	Size: 12–14 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 11–17 cm (4–7 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest[27] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [27]
Long-nosed mole	E. longirostris (A. Milne-Edwards, 1870)	Southeastern China	Size: 9–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest[28] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [28]
Small-toothed mole	E. parvidens Miller, 1940	Southeastern Asia	Size: About 14 cm (6 in) long, plus 6 cm (2 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest[29] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates[24]	DD  Unknown [29]
Vietnamese mole	E. subanura Kawada, Son, & Can, 2012	Northern Vietnam	Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2–2 in) tail[30] Habitat: Forest[31] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [31]

Genus Galemys – Kaup, 1829 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Pyrenean desman	G. pyrenaicus (Geoffroy, 1811) Two subspecies G. p. pyrenaicus G. p. rufulus	Iberian Peninsula	Size: 11–16 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 12–16 cm (5–6 in) tail[32] Habitat: Inland wetlands[33] Diet: Insects and crustaceans[34]	EN  Unknown [33]

Genus Mogera – Pomel, 1848 – seven species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Echigo mole	M. etigo Yoshiyuki & Imaizumi, 1991	Central Japan	Size: 15–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail[35] Habitat: Grassland[36] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[24]	EN  Unknown [36]
Insular mole	M. insularis Swinhoe, 1863 Three subspecies M. i. hainana M. i. insularis M. i. latouchei (La Touche's mole)	Eastern China, Hainan Island, and Taiwan	Size: 8–14 cm (3–6 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[24] Habitat: Forest[37] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [37]
Japanese mole	M. wogura (Temminck, 1842)	Southern Japan	Size: 12–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[35] Habitat: Grassland, shrubland, and forest[38] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [38]
Sado mole	M. tokudae Kuroda, 1940	Sado Island, Japan	Size: 13–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 2–3 cm (1 in) tail[35] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[39] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[24]	NT  Unknown [39]
Senkaku mole	M. uchidai Abe, Shiraishi, & Arai, 1991	Senkaku Islands	Size: About 13 cm (5 in) long, plus 2 cm (1 in) tail[24] Habitat: Grassland[40] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[24]	VU  Unknown [40]
Small Japanese mole	M. imaizumii Kuroda, 1957	Japan	Size: 10–16 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[35] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[41] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[24]	LC  Unknown [41]
Ussuri mole	M. robusta Nehring, 1891	Eastern Asia	Size: 14–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus about 2 cm (1 in) tail[24] Habitat: Forest[42] Diet: Earthworms, caterpillars and insects[42]	LC  Unknown [42]

Genus Neurotrichus – Günther, 1880 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
American shrew mole	N. gibbsii (Baird, 1858)	Western North America	Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[43] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[44] Diet: Earthworms, insects, other invertebrates, fungi, and seeds[45]	LC  Unknown [44]

Genus Parascaptor – Gill, 1875 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
White-tailed mole	P. leucura (Blyth, 1850)	Eastern Asia	Size: 11–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[20] Habitat: Forest[46] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[20]	LC  Unknown [46]

Genus Scaptochirus – H. Milne-Edwards, 1867 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Short-faced mole	S. moschatus H. Milne-Edwards, 1867	Northern China	Size: About 14 cm (6 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[47] Habitat: Desert and grassland[48] Diet: Arthropod larvae[48]	LC  Unknown [48]

Genus Scaptonyx – H. Milne-Edwards, 1872 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Long-tailed mole	S. fusicaudus H. Milne-Edwards, 1872	Eastern Asia	Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail[49] Habitat: Forest[50] Diet: Likely earthworms and other invertebrates[49]	LC  Unknown [50]

Genus Talpa – Linnaeus, 1758 – eleven species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Altai mole	T. altaica Nikolsky, 1833	Northern Asia	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest[52] Diet: Earthworms, as well as insects[52]	LC  Unknown [52]
Balkan mole	T. stankovici Martino & Martino, 1931	Balkans in Europe	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Coastal marine[53] Diet: Worms and insects[51]	LC  Unknown [53]
Blind mole	T. caeca Savi, 1822	Southern Europe	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest and grassland[54] Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates[54]	LC  Unknown [54]
Caucasian mole	T. caucasica Satunin, 1908	Caucasus Mountains in Russia and Georgia	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest and grassland[55] Diet: Earthworms, as well as insects[55]	LC  Unknown [55]
European mole	T. europaea Linnaeus, 1758	Europe and western Asia	Size: 11–16 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail[56] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[57] Diet: Earthworms and insects[56]	LC  Unknown [57]
Levant mole	T. levantis Thomas, 1906	Caucasus and Northern Turkey	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest and grassland[58] Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates[58]	LC  Unknown [58]
Ognev's mole	T. ognevi Stroganov, 1948	Georgia and northeastern Turkey	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest and grassland[59] Diet: Worms and insects[51]	LC  Unknown [59]
Père David's mole	T. davidiana (H. Milne-Edwards, 1884)	Turkey and northwestern Iran	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Grassland[60] Diet: Worms and insects[60]	DD  Unknown [60]
Roman mole	T. romana Thomas, 1902	Southern Italy	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest[61] Diet: Earthworms[61]	LC  Unknown [61]
Spanish mole	T. occidentalis A. Cabrera, 1907	Spain and Portugal	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[62] Diet: Earthworms and other invertebrates[62]	LC  Unknown [62]
Talysch mole	T. talyschensis Vereshchagin, 1945	Southern Azerbaijan and northern Iran	Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[51] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[63] Diet: Worms and insects[51]	LC  Unknown [63]

Genus Urotrichus – Temminck, 1841 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Japanese shrew mole	U. talpoides Temminck, 1841	Japan	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[20] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[64] Diet: Insects, spiders, worms, and other invertebrates[20]	LC  Unknown [64]

Genus Uropsilus – A. Milne-Edwards, 1871 – four species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Anderson's shrew mole	U. andersoni (Thomas, 1911)	Central China	Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[65] Habitat: Unknown[66] Diet: Invertebrates[65]	DD  Unknown [66]
Chinese shrew mole	U. soricipes A. Milne-Edwards, 1871	Central China	Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail[67] Habitat: Forest[68] Diet: Invertebrates[65]	LC  Unknown [68]
Gracile shrew mole	U. gracilis (Thomas, 1911)	Southern China and northern Myanmar	Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[65] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[69] Diet: Invertebrates[65]	LC  Unknown [69]
Inquisitive shrew mole	U. investigator (Thomas, 1922)	Southern China	Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[67] Habitat: Forest and grassland[70] Diet: Invertebrates[65]	DD  Unknown [70]