Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which mole species is the largest?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Illustration of a European mole (Talpa europaea) with a rounded, furry black body, small eyes, pointed snout, and large pale digging claws, shown next to a scale bar measuring 10 centimeters or 4 inches.
mole

The largest species in the family Talpidae is the Russian desman (Desmana moschata).1

While often categorized as an amphibious mole, the Russian desman is a member of the subfamily Desmaninae within the mole family. It reaches a body length of 18 to 22 cm (7 to 9 inches) with a tail of similar length, and it weighs between 100 and 220 grams (3.53 to 7.76 ounces). In comparison, typical Old World moles (genus Talpa) generally weigh between 65 and 120 grams.12