broad-footed mole
Refers to the species Scapanus latimanus, a mole native to western North America. The Japanese name literally means 'light-colored western mole'.
The broad-footed mole inhabits western North America.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly found in older or specialized texts; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 薄色 (usuiro, 'light color'), 西部 (seibu, 'western'), and 土竜 (mogura, 'mole'), describing the mole's pale coloration and western habitat. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the name is a straightforward descriptive compound.