| As in other moles, the fur of the Hairy-tailed Mole is short, very dense, soft, and silky, a good coat for traveling in underground tunnels. Its eyes are very small, and it does not have external ears. The claws on its front feet are admirably adapted for digging, being broad, flat, and heavy. Hairy-tailed Moles prefer loose soils, such as sandy loam, in areas with sufficient moisture and ground cover, which probably limits their distribution. They occur in a variety of habitats, including temperate forests, open fields, cultivated fields, and along roadsides. The sense of touch is important to this animal. It probably uses the whiskers on its snout, stiff hairs on top of its head, and a dense fringe of whisker-like hairs that edge the palms of its forefeet, as aids to navigating and finding earthworms and insects to eat.
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Males are larger than females.
Bachman, J., 1842. Observations on the genus Scalops, (shrew moles) with descriptions of the species found in North America, p. 32. Boston Journal of Natural History, 4:26-35.
Mammal Species of the World
Mammalian Species, American Society of Mammalogists' species account
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