Star-nosed Mole

The star-nosed mole is a small, semi-aquatic mole native to wet lowland areas of eastern North America, instantly recognizable for the ring of twenty-two fleshy, mobile tentacles surrounding its nostrils, an extraordinarily sensitive touch organ packed with sensory receptors that it uses to identify prey by touch in complete darkness at remarkable speed. It is considered one of the fastest-eating mammals known, able to detect, identify and consume tiny prey such as worms and aquatic insects in a fraction of a second. Star-nosed moles spend much of their time in burrows near water and are capable swimmers, even able to smell underwater by exhaling and re-inhaling air bubbles. The species remains widespread across its range and is classified as being of least concern.