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How Do Moles See?

Published in Animal Senses 3 mins read

Moles are fascinating creatures, but they don't rely on sight the way we do. The video titled "How Do Moles See The World? - YouTube" doesn't discuss how moles see directly but does explain that moles have five large fingers and a tiny thumb, adding that they have six fingers on each hand which are turned outward. However, the video does not go into details about their eyes or vision, which is common in discussions about moles. Moles' eyes are often very small, sometimes even covered by skin or fur, and their vision is generally poor, as they mainly rely on other senses to navigate their underground world.

How Moles Navigate Their World

Rather than relying on sight, moles have other senses that are much more developed:

  • Touch: Moles have highly sensitive noses and front paws. These are covered with special sensory organs called Eimer's organs, which help them navigate their dark burrows.
  • Smell: Moles have an excellent sense of smell, which they use to locate food and find their way underground.
  • Hearing: Moles can detect vibrations and sounds to help them locate prey and avoid danger.

Mole Vision - A Quick Look

While moles do have eyes, they aren't used for seeing the same way we use our eyes:

  • Their eyes are often small and not well-developed.
  • Some moles even have eyes covered by a thin layer of skin or fur.
  • This limited vision makes it easier for them to focus on navigating their dark burrows using other, more important senses.

Moles vs. Humans

Here is a small table outlining the difference in sight between moles and humans.

Feature Moles Humans
Eye Size Very Small Relatively large
Eye Development Poorly developed, often covered by fur/skin Well-developed for detailed vision
Primary Sense Touch, Smell, Hearing Sight
Use of Vision Limited, mainly detecting light vs dark Important for navigation, detailed tasks

In Conclusion

Moles primarily navigate their world by using their senses of touch, smell, and hearing, rather than relying on sight. Their eyes are not well-developed and are adapted for their underground lifestyle, only able to help them detect light and dark.

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