A mole is not a rodent, a common misconception that arises because both animals are small and sometimes found in gardens. The difference is based on fundamental biological classification, which groups living things by shared evolutionary history and distinct physical traits. Separating the mole from the true rodent requires understanding the specific scientific orders to which each animal belongs. The confusion is largely due to their similar subterranean lifestyles and secretive habits.
The Direct Answer: Moles Belong to a Different Biological Order
The definitive answer is that a mole does not belong to the Order Rodentia, the group that includes rats, mice, and squirrels. Moles are instead classified within the Order Eulipotyphla, which also contains shrews and hedgehogs. This taxonomic separation places moles and rodents on completely different branches of the mammalian family tree.
The mole’s closest living relatives are insect-eating mammals, not gnawing animals. The scientific distinction at the level of Order indicates a profound difference in evolutionary history that goes far beyond superficial appearance.
Defining the Mole: Specialized Anatomy and Diet
The mole’s unique physical structure and specialized feeding habits define its place within the Eulipotyphla order. A mole’s diet primarily consists of earthworms and other small invertebrates found beneath the soil surface, making it an insectivore. Moles consume approximately 80 to 100 percent of their body weight in food each day to maintain their high metabolism.
Their anatomy is highly adapted for a completely fossorial, or subterranean, existence. Moles possess massive, paddle-like forelimbs that are rotated outward and equipped with powerful claws for digging. The bone structure is modified, with an elongated breastbone that provides a strong anchor for the powerful digging muscles.
These tunneling specialists have extremely small, inconspicuous eyes, reflecting their reliance on senses other than sight. Their short, velvety fur can lie flat in any direction, allowing them to move easily through their tunnels. Unlike rodents, moles lack the specialized gnawing incisor teeth associated with plant and seed consumption.
Defining the Rodent: Characteristics of Order Rodentia
Rodents, belonging to the Order Rodentia, represent the largest group of mammals, making up about 40 percent of all known mammal species. The defining trait shared by every rodent is their unique dental structure, specialized for gnawing. This structure involves a single pair of continuously growing, rootless incisor teeth in both the upper and lower jaws.
These incisors are self-sharpening because the front of the tooth is covered in hard enamel, while the softer dentine on the back wears away faster during gnawing. This differential wear maintains a razor-sharp, chisel-like edge throughout the animal’s life. A noticeable gap, called a diastema, exists between these prominent incisors and the grinding cheek teeth, as rodents lack canine teeth.
While some rodents are omnivorous, their diet typically centers on seeds, plants, and other tough, fibrous materials that require constant gnawing and grinding. This feeding behavior and the resulting dental specialization are the defining biological features that fundamentally separate them from moles and other mammals.
Addressing the Misconception: Why Are They Often Confused?
The frequent confusion between moles and rodents stems mainly from their shared superficial habits and the impact they have on human environments. Both animals are small, secretive mammals that spend much of their time underground. They are often categorized together by people who view them as garden pests due to the visible damage they cause to lawns and landscaping.
The burrowing behavior itself is a primary source of the error, as the sight of disturbed soil and tunnels suggests a common identity. The similar size and general body shape of a mole to common rodents like voles or mice also contributes to the misidentification. Despite the massive biological differences in diet and skeletal structure, the shared lifestyle of digging and living out of sight leads to an easy, though inaccurate, grouping in the public mind.