Broad-footed Mole vs Common alder midget

Scapanus latimanus compared with Phyllonorycter rajella

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Broad-footed Mole	Common alder midget
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Talpidae	Gracillariidae
Genus	Scapanus	Phyllonorycter
Species	Scapanus latimanus	Phyllonorycter rajella

Evolutionary Relationship

Broad-footed Mole and Common alder midget share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Broad-footed Mole

LC — Least Concern

Common alder midget

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Broad-footed Mole	Common alder midget
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Broad-footed Mole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common alder midget

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

Broad-footed Mole

The Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus) is a species in the genus Scapanus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common alder midget

<em>Phyllonorycter rajella</em>, commonly known as the Common Alder Midget, is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae. This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is distributed across Europe, with records from countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, and several Scandinavian nations. As its common name suggests, the larval stage of this moth is closely associated with alder trees (Alnus species), within whose leaves the caterpillars create characteristic leaf mines. Adult moths are small with intricately patterned wings typical of gracillariid moths, often featuring metallic or golden markings. The species typically completes one or more generations per year, with adults emerging in spring and summer. Leaf-mining activity by the larvae produces distinctive blotch or tentiform mines visible on the undersides of alder leaves. The Common Alder Midget is generally considered a specialist of riparian and wetland habitats where alder trees commonly grow. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.