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What the sources say

European MoleTalpa europaea

Every figure, record and mechanism on the European Mole profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 40 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Sondergaard 2006

Sondergaard (2006). Talpa europaea (European mole). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA velvety black digger that lives underground, in tunnel networks that can run hundreds of metres.
The source saysUnless accidentally exposed to light, European moles spend their entire life underground ... This complex network of burrows is found at varying depths in the soil, and can be hundreds of meters long. ... Their fur is velvety and black in color.
The page saysDigs tunnel networks that can run hundreds of metres, with five-clawed front feet turned outward
The source sayscan be hundreds of meters long. ... The front feet have 5 strong claws and are permanently turned outward.
The page saysSoils deep enough to tunnel in, under arable fields, deciduous woodland and permanent pasture, from Great Britain east to the Ob and Irtysh rivers in Russia
The source saysfrom Great Britain in the west to the Ob and Irtysh rivers in the east in Russia. ... habitats with soils deep enough to allow tunneling. These include arable fields, deciduous woodland, and permanent pasture.
The page saysEarthworms where they make up most of the soil animals, insects where earthworms are fewer
The source saysEarthworms are the main constituent of the T. europaea diet in habitats where they constitute a majority of the biomass of the soil fauna. In areas without as many earthworms, insects are the main dietary constituent.
The page saysA European mole's front limbs are highly modified for digging.
The source saysThe front limbs are highly modified for digging
The page saysEach front foot has five strong claws and is permanently turned outward.
The source saysThe front feet have 5 strong claws and are permanently turned outward.
The page saysThe body is long and cylindrical, with velvety black fur and no external ears.
The source saysEuropean moles have long, cylindrical bodies. Their fur is velvety and black in color. ... and no external ears.
The page saysThe bare nose carries sensory whiskers.
The source saysThe nose is bare with the exception of sensory whiskers.
The page saysA mole weighs 72 to 128 g
The source saysEuropean moles weigh between 72 and 128 g.
The page saysThe body is 113 to 159 mm long, plus a tail of 25 to 40 mm.
The source saysBody lengths range from 113 to 159 mm with tail lengths between 25 and 40 mm.
The page saysA mole rarely stores more than 3 g of fat.
The source saysrarely have more than 3 grams of fat stored in the body
The page saysThe eyes are small and often hidden by fur.
The source saysfully developed eyes that are small and often hidden by fur
The page saysEuropean moles are known to build "fortresses": structured mounds that at times hold more than 750 kg of soil, with one or more nest chambers and a network of tunnels inside.
The source saysEuropean moles are known to build "fortresses," structured mounds containing more than 750 kg of soil at times. Internally, the fortresses contain one or more nest chambers and a network of tunnels.
The page saysThe European mole lives across temperate Europe, from Great Britain east to the Ob and Irtysh rivers in Russia.
The source saysis found throughout temperate Europe, from Great Britain in the west to the Ob and Irtysh rivers in the east in Russia.
The page saysIt is missing from the far south, including Greece, Portugal and Italy.
The source saysThey do not occur in southernmost parts of Europe, including Greece, Portugal, and Italy.
The page saysIt needs soil deep enough to tunnel in, such as arable fields, deciduous woodland and permanent pasture.
The source saysEuropean moles are found in habitats with soils deep enough to allow tunneling. These include arable fields, deciduous woodland, and permanent pasture.
The page saysPermanent tunnel networks can be hundreds of metres long.
The source saysThis complex network of burrows is found at varying depths in the soil, and can be hundreds of meters long.
The page saysEarthworms are the main food where they make up the majority of the soil animals' biomass. Where there are fewer earthworms, insects are.
The source saysEarthworms are the main constituent of the T. europaea diet in habitats where they constitute a majority of the biomass of the soil fauna. In areas without as many earthworms, insects are the main dietary constituent.
The page saysA mole usually has three rest periods and three activity periods in every 24 hours.
The source saysMoles usually have three periods of rest and three periods of activity every 24 hours.
The page saysA mole's home range covers 300 to 3000 square metres.
The source saysHome range size varies from 300 to 3000 square meters.
The page saysIf two meet outside the breeding season, a fight usually occurs.
The source saysIf two moles encounter each other during a time other than the breeding season, a fight usually occurs.
The page saysIn the wild, a mole typically lives 2 to 3 years.
The source saysTypical lifespan Status: wild 2 to 3 years
The page saysOne population held moles up to five years old.
The source sayspopulation was shown to include 45 percent juveniles (moles less than one year in age), 40 percent one to two year olds, and the remainder older moles, with a maximum age of five years.
The page saysDeaths peak at five to six weeks of age, when young moles leave the nest and come above ground.
The source saysThe highest mortality rate occurs at an age of five to six weeks, when the moles leave the mother's nest to disperse above ground and find their own territory.
The page saysOwls, buzzards and herons are among the birds that catch them.
The source saysThe main predators are birds, including owls, buzzards, herons, ravens, and gulls.
The page saysNo. A European mole has fully developed eyes, though they are small and often buried in fur.
The source saysThey have fully developed eyes that are small and often hidden by fur
The page saysA litter holds two to seven young, born blind and hairless. Pregnancy lasts four weeks, and a female usually has one litter a year.
The source saysGestation lasts four weeks in T. europaea. ... Generally females give birth to a single litter per year. Each litter has two to seven young, born blind and hairless.
The page saysBuilt to Dig
The source saysThe front limbs are highly modified for digging
The page saysA European mole digs with front feet turned permanently outward
The source saysThe front feet have 5 strong claws and are permanently turned outward.
The page saysmoles are known to build fortress mounds that at times hold more than 750 kg of soil
The source saysEuropean moles are known to build "fortresses," structured mounds containing more than 750 kg of soil at times.

Source
02

Atkinson & Gazzard 2024

Atkinson & Gazzard (2024). Talpa europaea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T221751920A221752294.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: Category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List (IUCN taxon 221751920); iucnredlist.org refuses scripts.

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Talpa europaea. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysAnAge gives an average adult weight of 92.5 g.
The source saysAdult weight 92.5 g
The page saysAnAge reports that they live up to 6 years, but says their maximum longevity must be classified as unknown.
The source saysIt has been reported that they live up to 6 years [ 0678 ]. Without more detailed studies, however, their maximum longevity must be classified as unknown.
The page saysweightKg: 0.0925
The source saysAdult weight 92.5 gNote: task #1261

Source
04

Glösmann et al. 2008

Glösmann et al. (2008). Cone photoreceptors and potential UV vision in a subterranean insectivore, the European mole. Journal of Vision.

The page saysThe retina holds about 100,000 light-sensing cells, and 10 to 12% of them are cones rather than rods.
The source saysCones and rods were identified ... The retina (total area 0.75 mm(2)) contains about 100,000 photoreceptors, 10-12% of which are cones.Note: Photoreceptors are the light-sensing cells; the study identified cones and rods.
The page saysThe lens transmits light down to 300 nanometres.
The source saysThe lens transmits light down to 300 nm.
The page saysReading part of the gene for one cone pigment strongly supports that pigment being sensitive to UV.
The source saysPartial sequencing of the S opsin gene strongly supports UV sensitivity of the mole S cone photopigment.
The page saysThe researchers say their data suggest that bright-light vision and UV sensitivity play a functional role in the mole.
The source saysTogether, our data suggest that photopic vision and UV sensitivity of a cone pigment play a functional role in the European mole.Note: Photopic vision is vision in bright light.

Source
05

Fellowes et al. 2020

Fellowes et al. (2020). Map-A-Mole: Greenspace Area Influences the Presence and Abundance of the European Mole Talpa europaea in Urban Habitats. Animals.

The page saysMoles generally burrow less than a metre below ground.
The source saysEuropean moles generally burrow less than a metre below the ground
The page saysA molehill holds the spoil, the loose soil left behind as a mole digs its underground tunnels.
The source saysmolehills, which contain the spoil heaps left behind as the mole digs its underground tunnels

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.