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    Condylura – Star-nosed mole

    The star-like tentacles on the nose are not just for looks; they can detect electrical fields to locate their prey

    Star-nosed moles can be easily recognized by their unique snout that has 11 pairs of little pink tentacles on the tip and expands out like a star. Each tentacle houses 25,000 touch receptors known as Elmer’s organs. They are also covered in a black pelage and equipped with claws on the wide forefeet that are adapted for digging.

    The tentacles can move exceptionally quickly, touching up to 12 objects per second. Therefore, they rely heavily on their tentacles as they have poorly developed eyesight. These animals can also smell underwater, exhale air bubbles into things and then inhale the bubbles to smell the trapped scent.