GOLDEN MOLE, the name given to species of the South African family Chrysochloridae of the order Insectivora (q.v.) from the bright lustre of their fur. They resemble the true moles (q.v.) in habits and, to some extent, in appearance, but dig by means of the enormous claws on the two middle digits of the forelimbs, an adaptation to the hard soil. For their structure and relationships, see INSECTIVORA.