The Collaborative International Dictionary
Starnose \Star"nose`\ (st[aum]r"n[=o]z`), n. (Zo["o]l.) A curious American mole ( Condylura cristata) having the nose expanded at the end into a stellate disk; -- called also star-nosed mole.
Wiktionary
n. a species of mole, (taxlink Condylura cristata species noshow=1), identified by the twenty-two sensory appendage around the snout.
WordNet
n. amphibious mole of eastern North America having pink fleshy tentacles around the nose [syn: starnose mole, Condylura cristata]
Wikipedia
The star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) is a small mole found in wet low areas of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, with records extending along the Atlantic coast as far as extreme southeastern Georgia. It is the only member of the tribe Condylurini and the genus Condylura.
The star-nosed mole is easily identified by the twenty-two pink fleshy appendages ringing its snout which is used as a touch organ with more than 25,000 minute sensory receptors, known as Eimer's organs, with which this hamster-sized mole feels its way around. With the help of its Eimer's organs, it may be perfectly poised to detect seismic wave vibrations.
Usage examples of "star-nosed mole".
His nose, like the nose of a star-nosed mole, is composed of twenty-two pink tentacle-like touch organs.
His nostrils flared in flesh folds, like the snout of a star-nosed mole.
It was brilliant gold metal, and it came down with a halo of gold radiation around its splayed front, like the fleshy protuberance of a star-nosed mole.