The eyes are small but visible, and the ears are barely evident externally. The palms of the forefeet are as broad as they are long. The tail is constricted at the base, scaled, annulated, and sparsely haired. It increases in diameter to about the size of a lead pencil in both sexes during winter and early spring. This is mainly fat, probably a reserve supply of energy for the breeding season.
Females have eight mammae.
Star-nosed mole distribution is largely dependent on the presence of damp or muddy soil. The animal constructs a network of shallow tunnels but also spends considerable time foraging on the surface at night. Where the water table permits, tunnels as deep as 60 cm may be excavated. The wet soil is compacted and pushed to the surface to form molehills, which are about 30-60 cm wide and 15 cm high. Some of the tunnels may lead directly into the water.