Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Talpidae
- Genus
- Mogera
Habitat
This species inhabits forests, grasslands, and agricultural fields in Japan, preferring moist, loose soils for burrowing. It is found on the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku, typically at elevations up to 1,500 meters. They avoid dry or rocky areas where digging is difficult.
Diet
The Small Japanese mole primarily eats earthworms, insect larvae, and other soil invertebrates. It forages underground using its sensitive snout to detect prey, and is most active in feeding during the night and early morning. They consume their body weight in food daily to maintain energy for digging.
Behavior
Small Japanese moles are solitary and fossorial, spending most of their time digging extensive tunnel systems underground. They are primarily nocturnal but may be active during the day in cooler weather, and they mark territories with scent to avoid encounters with others. These moles are aggressive when defending their burrows and rarely surface except for mating or food scarcity.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the Small Japanese mole is Least Concern, with a stable population trend, though habitat loss from urbanization and agriculture poses a threat. No major conservation efforts are currently in place, but monitoring is recommended due to potential local declines.