The fastest animal on earth may be the well-known cheetah, but the prize for fastest feeding mammal has recently been awarded to the relatively obscure star-nosed mole. The best time ever clocked, from the time a star-nosed mole came in contact with a food item until consumption of the item, was 140 milliseconds, or 0.14 of a second. Many have never even heard of this peculiar, but fascinating, animal!

Small, stocky and dark-brown, the star-nosed mole generally resembles the other members of the mole family, with one noticeable exception. Until its recent claim to fame through speed, the most memorable feature of this underground mammal was its highly specialized nose. The “star nose,” which resembles a delicate pink sea anemone tacked onto the tip of the mole’s nostrils, can locate the burrower’s preferred diet of small invertebrates and earthworms. Although one might assume that these tentacles are used to “sniff out” prey, they actually function as sensitized “fingers,” which are able to feel even the smallest vibrations underground, as well as sense electrical impulses emanating from potential food sources.

This is only the briefest description of an animal that has been wonderfully designed to function in its environment. Take time to research more about this marvelous piece of God’s amazing creation.