Earth-moving equipment

Although it's sad to find a dead mole it does provide an opportunity to study this extraordinary animal, so perfectly adapted for life below ground  Normally they are very hard to see, let alone get close to. This one had not a mark upon its cylindrical body, which was clad in the smooth plush coat that allows the mole to bore torpedo-like through the earth  in search of worms detected by its super-sensitive nose (as seen here.)

Most interesting are its broad and powerful front feet, capable to shifting huge amounts of soil for its size and weight.  Their shovel shape  is maximised by an adaptation of its wrist bone which extends upwards to widen the surface of the  paw - easily seen here in the curved margin on the right side.

The deceased mouldywarp was laid to rest in a subterranean hollow, solitary in death as it was in life. They are not companionable beasts.   

Technical stuff here.