How are shrew moles different from typical moles?

Shrew moles differ from typical moles primarily in their physical specialization and behavior. While typical moles are highly adapted for aggressive, subterranean burrowing with cylindrical bodies, powerful forelimbs, and broad, spadelike claws, shrew moles are much less specialized for this lifestyle.1

Key differences include:

• Appearance: Shrew moles resemble shrews rather than typical moles. They possess longer tails—often nearly as long as their bodies—and have smaller hands and claws that can be placed flat on the ground.1
• Sensory Organs: Unlike typical moles, which often lack external ears, shrew moles have large external ears that may extend beyond their fur.1
• Habitat and Activity: Typical moles spend most of their lives underground in complex tunnel systems. In contrast, shrew moles spend significant time aboveground, foraging in leaf litter and shallow surface tunnels. The American shrew mole is particularly notable for being an adept climber and swimmer, and it is the only North American mole known to nest aboveground.1

These distinctions reflect the shrew mole's less extreme adaptation to a strictly fossorial (burrowing) existence compared to their typical counterparts.1