The Star-Nosed Mole | The Institute for Creation Research

The Star-Nosed Mole

The star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) is a fascinating semi-aquatic mammal found in eastern Canada and the United States. Moles (placental mammals) are classified—along with hedgehogs and shrews—in the Order Lipotyphla. They have no evolutionary history, and evolutionists can only speculate they evolved from unknown Cretaceous ancestors. Fossils of these animals are found in the Palaeocene and Cretaceous.

Not only are moles designed with an amazing sense of smelling in stereo1, but God has created them with special touch organs called Eimer's organs. These structures are very exceptional.

Eimer's organs are specially-designed sensory tissues found in many moles, especially the star-nosed mole. The tentacled snout of this animal has about 25,000 of them. Through the decades, zoologists have discovered that because of Eimer's organs, the star-nosed mole is able to eat very quickly, having an incredible ability to immediately discern what is edible or not. In fact, this rapid forager holds the record of being the fastest-eating mammal, able to identify and eat food in as little as 120 milliseconds.2 The mole is able to make these diet decisions in 8 milliseconds—the speed limit of neural conduction.

How do Eimer’s organs work? Twenty-first-century physiologists still do not understand exactly how these touch receptor types alter touch that are turned into the electrical signals that nerve fibers transmit to the brain. If and when they do, it will only reveal powerful electrochemical and mechanosensory design features that are a result of plan and purpose—not chance and time.

Research continues on the strangest snout in the animal kingdom that helps the hungry mole to rapidly survey pitch-black environments in its search for tiny prey. For about six months out of the year these semi-aquatic moles can forage in cold environments, including water. How do they not lose their touch sensitivity in such frigid conditions? In 2023, thermal biologists Tattersall and Campbell published their investigation regarding the effects of thermal energy on the rostrum (snout) of this creature.

given the exquisite sensory nature of the star [mobile, 22 nasal rays], we posited that the uninsulated rays may be kept warm when foraging to maintain high mechanosensory function. To test these hypotheses, we remotely monitored surface temperatures in wild-caught star-nosed moles. Although the tail acted as a thermal window exhibiting clear vasoconstriction/vasodilation, the star varied passively in surface temperature, with little evidence for thermoregulatory vasomotion.3

In other words, they found the rostrum did not require warmth for the animal to efficiently sense its food. They went on to say, “This thermoconforming response may have evolved to minimize conductive heat loss to the water or wet soils when foraging.”3 Creationists would state, “This thermoconforming response was designed to minimize conductive heat loss to the water or wet soils when foraging.”

The case for creation is clearly seen in this amazing underground animal that is designed with a unique size and shape and the most touch-sensitive structures (Eimer's organs) among the vertebrates and people.

References

  1. Thomas, B. Moles Can Smell in Stereo. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org February 27, 2013, accessed February 29, 2023.
  2. Catania, K. and F. Remple. 2005. Asymptoic prey profitability drives star-nosed moles to the foraging speed limit. Nature. 433:7025, 519-522.
  3. Tattersall, G. and K. Campbell. 2023. Thermoconforming rays of the star-nosed mole. Journal of Experimental Biology. V 226, Issue 3.

* Dr. Sherwin is science news writer at the Institute for Creation Research. He earned an M.A. in zoology from the University of Northern Colorado and received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Pensacola Christian College.

The Latest
NEWS
April 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things...

NEWS
Human Evolution and the Inner Ear
The vain attempt by evolutionists to make an evolutionary connection between people and ape-like ancestors continues. This time, it is in regard to...

CREATION PODCAST
Defending the Faith with a Rocket Scientist | Creation.Live Podcast:...
How do engineering principles, biological complexity, and a solid understanding of apologetics work together to further the cause of Christ? Why...

NEWS
Aerobic and Anaerobic Hot Spring Bacteria
God designed a domain of prokaryotes called Archaea that thrive in harsh and extreme environments. In 1969, two microbiologists, Thomas Brock and Hudson...

CREATION PODCAST
The Soulless Hominid Theory: A Fatal Flaw in Old Earth Creationism...
Welcome to the second episode in a series called “The Failures of Old Earth Creationism.” Many Christians attempt to fit...

NEWS
Humpback Whale Calls Echo Creation
There is nothing simple about the system of communication called language, whether animal or human.1 Human language is a very sophisticated...

NEWS
Mary Parker, Creation Ministry Partner of Dr. Gary Parker, Is...
Mary Parker, the wife and co-laborer of Dr. Gary Parker, went home to be with her Lord on March 20, 2025. Dr. Parker was a popular and effective...

NEWS
Plants Rely on Quantum Mechanics
Scientists will probably never fully understand photosynthesis as additional research uncovers even more fascinating mysteries.1,2 ICR’s...

NEWS
Martian Polar Ice Cap ''Surprisingly Young''?
A team of German planetary scientists has concluded that a three-kilometer-thick northern polar ice cap on Mars has a “surprisingly young”...

NEWS
''Blood Worm Moon'' Total Lunar Eclipse 2025
Barring cloud cover, about 75% of the country saw the total lunar eclipse, aka the “Blood Worm Moon.” Texas had good weather conditions...