The Doctors' Mole Specimens

After reading Dr. Shin-ichiro Kawada's book 'Specimen Fool' (Hyohon Baka), I wanted to visit the National Museum of Nature and Science. I especially wanted to see the rare Mizura mole specimen!

On a certain holiday, I, a homebody, managed to crawl out of bed and successfully head to Ueno.
However, when I stepped out of Ueno Station, right in front of me was...

People!!

The crowd was beyond my expectations, and I realized once again that 'parks in Tokyo are on a completely different level.'
I wanted to turn around and go home, but I really wanted to see the Mizura mole. Since I had come all this way, I plunged into the crowd.

I safely managed to see the moles I was looking for at the Japan Gallery of the National Museum of Nature and Science, and it was amazing!
There were actually three moles on display with labels bearing the names of Dr. Yoshiharu Imaizumi and Dr. Kimiyuki Tsuchiya. How luxurious! I felt like I had met celebrities (moles).

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Dr. Imaizumi's moles are a Japanese shrew mole [M8484, 1962] and an Eastern Japanese mole [M18891, 1963], and Dr. Tsuchiya's mole is a Kobe mole [M15927, 1971].
I found it interesting to see that he was aiming for the number on the Japanese shrew mole lol. (*1)

Or rather, it is also amazing that the number 3178 Japanese shrew mole [1955] is on display. I was lost in thought, wondering if it was a Mizura mole from the era that Dr. Kawada wrote about in 'Specimen Fool' as a time when the number of specimens increased. (*1)

The Sado mole and Echigo mole were about twice as big as I had imagined.
The impression was so different that I thought, 'Wow, they're huge!', so it is definitely important to see the real thing.

Now, the Mizura mole I was looking for is number 4275 from 1956.
If I found this little one in the mountains, would I be able to distinguish it from other moles?
The physical characteristics I felt were as follows:

(1) Body hair color
The body hair color is one that could exist in Eastern Japanese moles or Japanese shrew moles due to individual differences.
Honestly, I can't tell unless I compare multiple individuals of each.
According to some books, the Mizura mole ranges from pure black to dark gray. (*2)

(2) Tail length
I thought the Mizura mole's tail was 'long' at a glance, so it seems distinguishable.
(Eastern Japanese mole < Mizura mole < Japanese shrew mole)

(3) Nose length
The Mizura mole's nose is said to be characteristic, but I couldn't tell from the specimen. (*3)
It is shorter and wider than other moles, and it looks like a somewhat chubby nose. (*2)
The Japanese shrew mole's nose is thin and long, so that part seems comparable.

(5) Claw shape
If you look closely at the claws, it might be a fairly easy part to distinguish.
The Japanese shrew mole's claws are thin and feel unreliable for digging, the Eastern Japanese mole has sturdy and magnificent claws, and the Mizura mole has an impression of being in between.

(4) Size
The Mizura mole's body is on the smaller side. Since the Eastern Japanese mole had the same body length as a ballpoint pen (around 15cm), it is smaller than that.
The Japanese shrew mole and the Mizura mole are the same, or the Mizura mole is slightly larger.

Hmm, it seems possible to distinguish between a Japanese shrew mole and a Mizura mole, but it seems difficult to identify an Eastern Japanese mole and a Mizura mole if they are actually alive. (Maybe distinguish by size?)
I thought that if it were a deceased little one, I might be able to distinguish it if I could observe it carefully.

I enjoyed fantasizing about such things.
Next time I go hiking in the mountains, I thought I would try walking while being careful.

What was a little disappointing was that I got a migraine halfway through and couldn't walk around the whole building.
Next time, I want to take my time and walk around the whole building.

<References>

*1 Shin-ichiro Kawada (2020). 'Specimen Fool'. Bookman Co., Ltd. P052-055
*2 Masahiro Iijima / Kimiyuki Tsuchiya (2015). 'Mole Handbook'. Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan Co., Ltd. P44
*3 Shin-ichiro Kawada (2020). 'Specimen Fool'. Bookman Co., Ltd. P201