There are twenty-two species of the common mole belonging to the Talpidae family, five of which are found in the United States. Moles have small, rounded bodies, pointy snouts and soft, fluffy brown or grey fur. The tail of the mole contains no fur, is bright pink in color, and is commonly 1-9 inches in length. Feet are wide and hold long, strong claws, which enable the mole to cover much territory underground. The mole has internal ears, apparent only by tiny holes on the sides of the head, which are most often covered with fur.
Moles are also blind.
Their small eyes are usually covered with a thick coating of skin. Thanks to an especially sensitive snout and a carefully guided tail, the mole is able to find its way remarkably well, despite its handicap. Moles vary in size by type and region. The largest North American species is known as the western mole, which measures more than 9-inches in length. The shrew, also common in the U.S., is the smallest in the mole family, at only 5-inches.