Grant's Golden Mole

Also known as Namib Golden Mole, Dune Golden Mole

Grant's golden moles are extraordinary subterranean navigators that literally swim through the loose sand dunes of the Namib Desert and western South Africa. Lacking external eyes and ear openings, they rely on massive inner ear bones to sense low-frequency seismic vibrations rippling through the sand, pinpointing termite mounds and wandering beetle larvae from meters away. Because they do not construct permanent tunnels, they wander across the dune surface on cold desert nights before plunging headfirst back into the sand to escape the daytime heat.