Polarized Light Microscopy Digital Image Gallery

Mole Hair

Moles are often described as being blind. However, moles do have eyes, though they are very small and covered with skin or fur in order to protect them from dirt as they burrow underground. Their eyes can sense light and darkness, as well as movement, but provide little acuity. Yet, the poor eyesight of moles is fully compensated by the well-developed nature of their other senses. Moles are, for instance, equipped with keen hearing although their ears are also hidden amongst their fur. Their sense of touch is extremely acute as well, a small pink area of bare skin along the snout detecting changes in temperature and infinitesimal movements, while their superb sense of smell enables the voracious creatures to locate insects, earthworms, and other prey by their scent.


© 1995-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, software, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our
Graphics & Web Programming Team
in collaboration with Optical Microscopy at the
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Last modification: Thursday, Nov 20, 2003 at 03:51 PM
Access Count Since November 20, 2003: 7995
Microscopes provided by:
Visit the Nikon website. Visit the Olympus Microscopy Resource Center website.