Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, insectivorous mammal of eastern North America: The "hair-tailed mole" is a specific species of mole, characterized by its nearly hairless tail which has only sparse, short hairs. Its scientific name is Parascalops breweri. It is also commonly called the "hairy-tailed mole" or "Brewer's mole."

Usage

• The term "hair-tailed mole" is used as a countable noun to refer to the animal itself. It is primarily a zoological term.
• Example: "While hiking in the Appalachian forests, we found evidence of a hair-tailed mole in the soft soil."
• Example: "The hair-tailed mole is less common in urban areas than the Eastern mole."

Advanced Usage

• The name can be used in comparative biological or ecological studies.
  • Example: "The study compared the tunneling depth of the hair-tailed mole to that of the star-nosed mole."

Variants and Related Words

• Hairy-tailed mole: A common variant spelling and name for the same animal ().
• Brewer's mole: Another common name for this species, derived from the naturalist Thomas Mayo Brewer.

Synonyms

• Parascalops breweri: The scientific binomial name.
• Hairy-tailed mole: The more frequently used common name.

Notes on Meaning

• The "hair-tailed mole" is distinct from other mole species due to its unique tail and its specific geographic range in the deciduous and mixed forests of eastern North America. The name directly describes its physical characteristic: a tail with very little hair.

Noun

1. mole of eastern North America