Mole

A mole rat is a small rodent that digs holes underground. It is 15 to 23 centimeters (six to nine inches) long. Its scientific name is Spalax ehrenbergi. Many mole rats live in Israel, especially around Jerusalem. Both Leviticus 11:29–30 and Isaiah 2:20 refer to the mole.

The mole rat has no tail and looks somewhat like other moles, though true moles have never lived in Israel. Its teeth are strong and stick out like a squirrel's teeth. It has a short, thick neck and a round body shaped like a sausage. The legs are short with wide feet and sharp claws that help it dig underground.

The animal is covered in soft, thick, gray fur. Both its very small eyes (no bigger than tiny seeds) and its small ears are hidden under its fur. Some traditional beliefs taught that touching a mole rat would make a person blind.

In winter, when the ground is wet, the mole rat builds large mounds of earth where it has its babies. In summer, it builds simpler mounds for resting. Both types of mounds have complex networks of tunnels underneath them. The mole rat eats parts of plants that grow underground, like roots and bulbs. Because it eats these plants, it often causes serious damage to farmers' crops.

See also Animals.