A Star...

Well actually, a Star-Nosed Mole!  I was watching a Kingfisher avoiding me, when I spotted this little guy running along the shoreline in the grass and reeds. Poor thing was being attacked by fire ants so was too busy scratching to care about me. It is the only member of its 'tribe' having a touch organ with more than 25,000 minute sensory receptors, known as Eimer's organs, with which this hamster-sized mole feels its way around.  Very cool...


No worries, though. It made its way to the water as it is a good swimmer and could get rid of those nasty ants.


A most unusual find... I have previously only glimpsed them as they scurry very quickly.


Dx