The star-nosed mole not only has to deal with a rather unfortunate name, this creature is not too attractive. Luckily, for this fine specimen, it has reached some level of distinction in terms of international recognition; namely, the star-nosed mole has been recognized by the ultimate authority on everything, (no, not Wikipedia), but the Guinness Book of World's Records as the fastest-eating mammal.
YOWZA! Previously, I had believed, and not without some pride, that I was in fact the fastest-eating mammal. Given the difference in our diets, I think it would be difficult for me to go head-to-head in competition with it. This particular mole is not a fine diner by any stretch of the imagination- its diet consists of small invertbrates, aquatic insects, worms and mollusks......mmmmmm, good. Maybe even finger-licking good. The fast-eating moles may be enabled in their speed-record chowing by 44-teeth and by their lovely snout, which is used to identify their food. Their ability to smell underwater probably doesn't hurt matters either.
Just as Rudolph the red-nose-reindeer was not named very creatively, this nose looks like a star and I imagine it would be somewhat squishy to the touch. According to WIkipedia, when the fingers grow, they grow quite differently from our own fingers, but instead "break free and move forward in the same way a banana is peeled." I'm sorry, Wikipedia, but this doesn't quite give me a clear enough picture of how it grows,
