Moles are small mammals adapted to a
subterranean lifestyle (i.e., fossorial). They have cylindrical bodies, velvety fur, very small, inconspicuous ears and eyes, reduced hindlimbs and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws adapted for digging. The term "mole" is especially and most properly used for "true moles" of the
Talpidae family in the order
Soricomorpha found in most parts of
North America,
Asia, and
Europe although may refer to other completely unrelated mammals of
Australia and southern
Africa that have also evolved the mole
body plan; it is not commonly used for some talpids, such as
desmans and
shrew-moles, which do not quite fit the common definition of "mole".