View source for Mega Mole

{{distinguish2|[[Mega Monty Mole]]}}
{{species infobox
|image=[[File:Mega Mole Artwork.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of a Mega Mole from ''[[Super Mario World]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[1990]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Strikers Charged]]'' (cameo) ([[2007]])
|variant_of=[[Monty Mole]]
|relatives=[[Big Monty Mole]]<br>[[Morty Mole]]<br>[[Presenter]]
|notable=[[Chitei Kaijū Indy]]<br>[[Mega Mole family]]<br>[[Pakkun Mogura]]<br>[[Sphinx Zō]]
}}
{{quote|いいなあ…あっしと同じ 種族なのに でっかくて 迫力あって… (How lucky... It's the same species as me, but it's bigger and more powerful...)|Monty Mole|Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater Volume 2}}
'''Mega Moles''' are large [[Monty Mole]]s<ref>''Super Mario World'' Japanese instruction booklet, 「チョロプー」 description. 「{{hover|土|つち}}の{{hover|中|なか}}からいきなり{{hover|出現|しゅつげん}}するモグラ。{{hover|地下|ちか}}の{{hover|世界|せかい}}には、{{hover|巨大化|きょだいか}}したやつもいるそうだ。」 (''A mole that bursts out of the ground. In underground worlds, there are even some that became giant.'')</ref><ref name=Prima>Stratton, Bryan. ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 13.</ref> that debuted in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. Due to being more bulkier and stronger compared to regular Monty Moles, Mega Moles are usually depicted of being in charge of other Monty Moles.<ref name=Book1>「任天堂公式ガイドブック　スーパーマリオワールド」 (''Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario World''), page 28 (INDY <small>インディー</small> description). 「モクラの親玉。上には乗れるけど踏んでも倒せない。挟み打ちにされることが多いので、天井の低い所では注意！　マントで倒せるのは意外。」 (''Head of the moles. It can be ridden on but stepping on it won't defeat it. Be careful of places with low ceilings, as they tend to pin you down! The Cape can defeat it, surprisingly.'')</ref><ref>{{media link|SMCE page 45.png|Page 45}} of 「スーパーマリオ<span class=explain title=オールひゃっか>全百科</span>」 (''Super Mario Zen Hyakka'', or "''Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia''") states of Indy: 「チョロプーたちの<span class=explain title="おやだま">親玉</span>。」 (''Head of the Choropoo.'')</ref><ref>{{media link|SMBD page 60.png|Page 60}} of 「スーパーマリオ<span class=explain title="だいずかん">大図鑑</span>」 (''Super Mario Bros. Daizukan'', or "''Super Mario Great Picture Book''") states of Indy: 「モクラのチョロプーの<span class=explain title="おやだま">親玉</span>だ。」 (''It's head of the Choropoo moles.'')</ref> Despite this, Mega Moles have poor eyesight (though they perform better with their other senses).<ref name=MM>M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 51.</ref>

Despite debuting in ''Super Mario World'' like their regular counterparts, Mega Moles have not made as many video game appearances as Monty Mole, as they instead appeared more frequently in various other pieces of media such as manga.

==History==
===''Super Mario World'' / ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''===
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|[[File:Mega Mole SMW sprite.png]][[File:SMW SMA2 Mega Mole.png]]
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[[File:Valley of Bowser 1 GBA screenshot.png|thumb|A screenshot from ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' depicting a [[Blue Yoshi]] eating a Mega Mole trapped between the red [[! Block]]s]]
In ''[[Super Mario World]]'' and its [[Gameboy Advance]] remake, ''[[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2]]'', Mega Moles are exclusively found in underground levels, where they appear in [[Chocolate Island 4]], [[Valley of Bowser 1]] and [[Valley of Bowser 2]]. They are invulnerable to [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]]'s [[jump]] or [[Spin Jump]] moves as well as [[Fire Mario]] or Luigi's [[fireball]]s, but can be defeated by using [[Cape Mario|Caped Mario]] or Luigi's spinning attack, a [[Super Star]], a [[Grab Block]], or a [[Shell]]. Like other enemies, they are also immune to hazards such as [[Muncher]]s and spikes. Standing on a Mega Mole's head is not a danger by itself, and will allow Mario or Luigi to ride it. Unlike regular Monty Moles, they do not pop out of holes in the ground. Despite their size, they can be eaten and swallowed by [[Yoshi]]. While most enemies merely result in the loss of Yoshi when getting hit by them, a few others, including Mega Moles, both hurt Mario and force Yoshi to run away. In ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'', Yoshi is able to spit out a Mega Mole if Luigi is riding him. When a Mega Mole is spat out, they roll along the ground while being depicted with a unique sprite of them facing the screen (which heavily resembles Monty Mole's jumping sprite).

===''Super Mario'' Kodansha manga===
[[File:Mega Moles in Valley of Bowser 1 KC Mario.png|325px|thumb|Several Mega Moles in Valley of Bowser 1 seen in the third ''Super Mario World'' volume]]
Mega Moles appear in several volumes in the ''[[Super Mario (Kodansha manga)|Super Mario]]'' Kodansha manga, retaining a faithful design to that of their appearance from ''[[Super Mario World]]''.

Mega Moles first appear in the third ''Super Mario World'' volume, when [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], and [[Yoshi]] fall into a giant hole, only to land on a giant Mega Mole trapped in a cage made out of [[! Block]]s. Mario and Luigi jump off the enlarged Mega Mole, as Yoshi proceeds to eat it. The trio would then proceed to travel through [[Valley of Bowser 1]] shortly after, encountering several more Mega Moles along the way and using various methods of either dodging or defeating them. In a later chapter taking place in [[Chocolate Island 4]], when Yoshi is left behind, he discovers three Mega Moles and quickly runs to warn Mario, Luigi, and [[Princess Peach|Peach]] about them. Mario and Luigi attempt to attack the Mega Moles, but they soon realize that the Mega Moles are immune to their attacks. They try jumping over them, but they land onto the Mega Moles' heads. They realize that the Mega Moles might have poor eyesight, and were most likely not trying to attack them. The Mega Mole that Mario is riding on then starts sinking into the [[lava]], with Mario jumping off of it before falling into the lava as well. Yoshi is then confronted by the Mega Mole that Peach was riding, proceeding to eat it and Peach (though he later spits out Peach). The Mega Mole that Luigi is riding mourns the death of the Mega Mole who was eaten by Yoshi, before then being defeated by [[Caped Luigi]].

[[File:Mega Mole Crime Boss KC Mario.png|thumb|left|The Mega Mole seen in the sixth ''Super Mario World'' volume]]
In the fourth ''Super Mario World'' volume, [[Larry Koopa]] commands two Mega Moles to attack Mario and his friends. However, Luigi quickly digs a hole that the Mega Moles fall into due to their poor eyesight.

In the sixth ''Super Mario World'' volume, a Mega Mole appears as the main antagonist of the first chapter. After Mario and Yoshi leave to investigate who stole the [[Golden Dash Mushroom|Golden Mushroom]], it is revealed that the [[Monty Mole]]s that they paid a toll to were actually minions of a Mega Mole who stole the Golden Mushroom. The Mega Mole explains that they falsely accused [[Bowser]] for stealing the Golden Mushroom, with the Moles using the Mushroom to fund their mining tunnel. Later one when Bowser is being interrogated, the Mega Mole and Monty Moles use a Bowser-shaped chariot to drill through the interrogation cell to attack everyone. The moles throw [[Bob-omb]]s at everyone before one explodes and destroys the Bowser chariot. The Moles then attempt to escape using a [[Wiggler]]-shaped cargo vehicle, but Mario and Yoshi quickly catch up, with Yoshi eating segments of the vehicle to make the moles crash into a wall. After the Wiggler vehicle crashes, the Mega Mole proceeds to point a [[Bullet Bill]] shooting pistol at Mario, but Mario deflects the bullets with his [[Super Star]] badge. The Mega Mole questions how he will be taken to jail since he has no cuffs, but the Mega Mole is then quickly eaten by Yoshi instead. The Golden Mushroom is then returned to the museum.

Although no normal Mega Moles appear in the seventh ''Super Mario World'' volume, a Bowser-created kaiju Mega Mole known as [[Chitei Kaijū Indy]] appears.

[[File:Pū tairiku.jpg|400px|thumb|The Mega Mole temple in the Pū Tairiku from the third ''Super Mario Kart'' volume]]
In the [[NES Open Tournament Golf|Mario Open Golf]] volume, what appears to be a Mega Mole on the table of contents page can be seen wearing a miner hat and smoking across from a Monty Mole.

In the ''[[Yoshi (game)|Yoshi]]'' volume, a Mega Mole with a Monty Mole on top of it can be seen collecting flyers for Yossy's Pizza.

In the first ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' volume, a Mega Mole holding a wrench can be seen among the Monty Moles in the crowd which stole Mario's engine.

In the second ''Super Mario Kart'' volume, a Mega Mole can be seen among a crowd of enemies that attempt to get on a ship.

[[File:Mega Mole Family.png|thumb|left|300px|Artwork of a Mega Mole family in the second 4koma volume]]
In the third ''Super Mario Kart'' volume, the inner temple that is located in the [[Pū Tairiku]] is shaped like a Mega Mole. The [[Choropū Chika Butai]] also heavily resembles Mega Moles (though they are actually just Monty Moles). 

In the ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' volume, a Mega Mole makes a background cameo attending [[Wart]]'s party.

In the first 4koma volume, a Mega Mole appears in the beginning of the "GO! GO! Mario Paint ~Part 3~" (GO! GO! マリオペイント ~その③~) story, in which they sing karaoke alongside a Monty Mole and [[Donkey Kong Jr.]], as well as watching an anime with everyone.

Mega Moles make their final appearance in the manga in the second 4koma volume. They appear on the cover which consists of artwork depicting a [[Mega Mole family]]. The Mega Mole family all have different sizes and different color shades. The family also appears throughout a few of the pages. In the "Videos Now on Sale" (ビデオ発売中) strip, Mario can be seen holding a small Mega Mole with him saying,「モグラはダメ?」("Moles aren't good?"). In the "Lala~lalalalala~la~" (ララ~ラララララ~ラ~) strip, Mario wins several small Mega Moles from a crane game. Yoshi then becomes jealous that Mario likes the moles better then him, even saying that Mega Moles are just stupid moles. Yoshi then proceeds to put on a Mega Mole disguise and begins crying for not being as loved anymore. In the "Let's Give Flowers ♡" (花をめしませ♡) strip, a Mega Mole receives a large bouquet from Mario. In the "Mole" (もぐら) strip, Mario tells Yoshi that he has become great friends with the Mega Mole, even saying that he will be now riding the Mega Mole from now on instead of Yoshi for the race and other occasions. The Mega Mole then proceeds to dig underground with Mario saying it is not a good time to do that and that the Mega Mole should stop.
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===''Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater''===
[[File:Monty Mole and Mega Mole strip.png|thumb|left|200px|The "Big Heads Have Little Wit" strip from the second volume]]
Mega Moles appear frequently in various strips of ''[[Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater]]'', usually being portrayed like their appearance from  ''[[Super Mario World]]''.

Although Mega Moles do not physically appear in '''volume 1''', Mega Moles are briefly mentioned in [[Monty Mole]]'s description like other Monty Mole descriptions.<ref>「地面の中に隠れていて、マリオが近づくとポーンと飛び出してくる。チョロチョロとすばしっこく、モグラのくせに地上でもやたらと元気がいい。地下の世界には巨大化したやつもいる。」 (''It hides in the ground, and when Mario approaches, it pops out. It is very cheerful, and even though it is a mole, it is very energetic even above the ground. There are also giant ones in the underground world.'') - Monty Mole's description, ''Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater''</ref>

Mega Moles make their first physical appearance in '''volume 2''', in the "Big Heads Have Little Wit" (大男総身に知恵が回りかね) strip, where a Mega Mole asks what a Monty Mole is doing. The Monty Mole claims that it is waiting for [[Mario]] in order to ambush him. As the Mega Mole leaves, the Monty Mole comments on how the Mega Mole is a more powerful and bigger species than it, who fails to notice Mario riding it.

In '''volume 4''', in the first part of the "Blushing" (赤面症) strip, a [[Big Boo]] is annoyed that Mario escaped once again. A Mega Mole then passes by and explains to the Big Boo that they have a phobia of Mario, with the Mega Mole then giving the Big Boo a new extra pair of their sunglasses. The Big Boo puts the sunglasses on incorrectly and asks the Mega Mole on if they look good. The Mega Mole then comments about how the way the Big Boo put on the sunglasses made them look like they had Mario's beard, which upsets the Big Boo.

In the "Betrayal Underground Passage" (裏切りの地下通路) strip, Mario attempts to jump kick a Mega Mole, but he instead sits on the Mega Mole's head after realizing that the Mega Mole did not notice him. As Mario comments on how funny it is that he is riding a Mega Mole, [[Yoshi]] gets upset and cries about Mario not needing him anymore.

In the "I told you! Monty Mole" (チョロプーですってば) strip, a Mega Mole sees a Monty Mole sitting next to them and saying hello to them. The Mega Mole then pushes onto the Monty Mole's head, with the Monty Mole asking what the Mega Mole is trying to do with them. The Mega Mole then tells the Monty Mole to not walk, with the Monty Mole responding with "Chorokyu won't do that!" (Chorokyu being a pun based on Choropū, the Japanese name for Monty Mole, and Dokyun, which is an onomatopeia for heartbeat). 

[[File:Mega Mole 4koma Vol 8 strip.png|thumb|200px|The "Mega Mole's Melancholy" strip from the eighth volume]]
In '''volume 5''', in the "Cookie Portrait" (にがおえクッキー) strip, a Mega Mole can be seen among the crowd of other enemies during a meeting with [[Bowser]].

In the "Alignment Slowing" (整列徐行) strip, Mario is cornered by two Mega Moles while traversing a narrow tunnel. After feeling hopeless, Mario then asks the two Mega Moles how they pass each other in these narrow tunnels. The two Mega Moles then show Mario how they get past each other, as the two of them squeeze through the narrow tunnel. After finishing their technique, the two Mega Moles then explain that they learnt this wisdom after the hard work and effort they did underground for many years. However, the two Mega Moles quickly realize that Mario has suddenly disappeared after the two Mega Moles squeezed past each other.

In the "Mega Mole!" (インディ!) strip, Mario and Yoshi encounter a Mega Mole washing their face, as the two of them imagine how the Mega Mole looks like without their sunglasses. However, Mario and Yoshi then comment on how ugly the Mega Mole's face is and how they are a compositor. Meanwhile, the Mega Mole simply leaves after they are finished with washing their face.

In the "Big hole, small hole" (大穴小穴) strip, Mario accidentally gets his foot stuck in a small hole. [[Luigi]] then tells Mario that the hole was made by a Monty Mole, with Mario then trash talking about the Monty Mole who made the hole, although Mario is at least glad it was a small hole. Unfortunately, Mario would fall into the hole after it inexplicably became larger. Luigi would then correct himself by saying that the hole was actually dug by a Mega Mole, as Mario lands on the exact same Mega Mole who dug the hole in the first place.

In the "Attention About Car Width" (車幅注意　原文) strip, as a Mega Mole is walking by, a Monty Mole is taking their time to admire them. The Monty Mole talks about how they want to be just like the Mega Mole, due to them being big, fuge, large, and dignified, just like a chad. By the Monty Mole's sheer luck, the Mega Mole dropped their pair of sunglasses, which the Monty Mole excitedly wears (and later accidentally hits two trees with, due to the sunglasses being too big, and the Monty Mole not paying attention to their surroundings).

In the "Dull Disability" (ニブい障害) strip, Mario is stopped by a Mega Mole in the way of the track after driving past several Monty Moles (exclaiming how the Mega Mole is stupid). A Monty Mole then tells Mario how he is not able to dodge this Mega Mole. Unfortunately, Mario simply drives over the Mega Mole, much to the Monty Mole's disappointment.

In '''volume 6''', in the "Iggy's Doctrine" (軍団計画) strip, three Mega Moles can be seen smoking alongside [[Roy Koopa]].

In '''volume 7''', in the "To Run Out Of Patiences" (限界) strip, Mario sits on top of a Mega Mole's head while eating an onigiri. Despite Mario making a ton of noise, he notes that the Mega Mole is extremely insensitive, and that they have not noticed Mario yet. However, as Mario gets ready to drink some tea, he accidentally spills some of it on the Mega Mole's head. At first, Mario assumes that the Mega Mole did not notice the it yet. However, the Mega Mole angrily chases Mario, as they finally noticed Mario once he spilled the tea on their head (due to the tea being extremely hot).

In '''volume 8''', in the "Mega Mole's Melancholy" (哀愁のインディ) strip, a Mega Mole accidentally walks into a pool of [[lava]], with Mario using the Mega Mole as a platform right before they sunk deeper into the lava. Once fully submerged in the lava, the Mega Mole contemplates their life choices (with text saying to the reader to never give up walking).

Mega Moles would make their final ''Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater'' appearance in '''volume 10''', in a title strip written by [[Hyakuyashiki Rei]], where a singular Mega Mole would be described by Luigi as "strange moles" when he is talking about how strange the ecosystem of [[Dinosaur Land]] is.

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===''Super Mario-kun''===
[[File:Friendly Mega Mole.png|thumb|300px|The friendly Mega Mole in volume 1 of ''Super Mario-kun'']]
Mega Moles appear throughout the first nine volumes of ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'', where they are shown to be rounder to match the design for [[Monty Mole]]s.

A friendly Mega Mole has a major role in the ninth chapter of volume 1. [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], and [[Yoshi]] land on top of the Mega Mole after Yoshi ate the underground map and the three of them fell in a hole. The Mega Mole then goes to a corner and cowers in fear as Mario and Luigi laugh at the fact that a big enemy is afraid of them. The Mega Mole then takes off his shades and tells them that he was left behind by his co-workers. The Mega Mole then falls into a pond, but Mario is able to use his [[Frog Suit]] and a [[Power Balloon]] that Luigi tosses to help carry the Mega Mole out of the pond. After this, the Mega Mole leads Mario and his friends through the cave to find the exit, with Mario accidentally getting hit by stalactites while riding the Mega Mole. The four of them then stumble across a [[Lava Lift|Skull Raft]]. The Mega Mole along with Mario and his friends use the raft to cross the [[lava]] until a [[Blargg]] comes. The Blargg explains that they were sent by [[Bowser]] to kill the Mega Mole for betraying the [[Koopa Troop]]. As Mario and his friends get burned by the Blargg, the Mega Mole once again cowers in fear and realizes that the Blargg cannot be defeated when looking through the ''Super Mario World'' instruction booklet. Eventually, the Mega Mole realizes how his friends need him in order to save them. The Mega Mole is then able to have the courage to jump into the Blargg's mouth and clog it. As the Blargg retreats into the lava with the Mega Mole still in their mouth, Mario and his friends mourn the loss of their Mega Mole friend. Fortunately however, the Mega Mole emerges from the lava shortly after with the Blargg attached to its head, revealing that they had survived. The Blargg then asks the Mega Mole if they can be put back into the lava.

In a ''[[Mario Paint]]''-themed chapter from volume 5, [[Lemmy Koopa]] is able to make a crudely drawn version of Mega Mole as well as other enemies using the [[SNES Mouse]]. However, the Mega Mole alongside the other enemies are quickly beaten up and defeated by Mario and Yoshi.

[[File:Mega Mole SMKun7.png|275px|thumb|left|A Mega Mole being thrown by Mario in volume 7]]
In volume 6, a [[Sphinx]] named [[Sphinx Zō]] has one of their body parts being the paws of a Mega Mole. A [[kart]] driving Mega Mole who works for [[Bowser]] has a major role as the main antagonist of the  fourth chapter. When Mario and his friends go through an ice area similar to [[Vanilla Lake]], they come across a Mega Mole driving a kart towards them. The Mega Mole accidentally breaks the ice underneath them due to how heavy they are, making Bowser and the [[Galoomba|Goomba]] laugh at the Mega Mole for being too overweight. The Mega Mole then gets picked up out of the ice by three [[Lakitu]]s before driving towards Mario. However, Luigi knocks Yoshi onto the Mega Mole's face. Luigi them attempts to throw a [[Poison Mushroom]] at the Mega Mole, but they easily smack away both Yoshi and the Poison Mushroom, making the Poison Mushroom land in Mario's mouth. Mario then straps Yoshi to his kart with Yoshi breathing fire at the Mega Mole causing them to drive in circles. The Mega Mole then uses its kart to hover over the water, spring into the air, and crush Mario, making him fall below the ice. After the Mega Mole congratulates itself for defeating Mario, Mario bursts out of the water, and uses the [[Lightning]] to zap and shrink the Mega Mole. The Mega Mole then states that they are now just a normal Monty Mole (despite still resembling a Mega Mole) and wishes Mario that they can be bigger again. Mario then says that he will make the Mega Mole bigger, with him and his friends proceeding to bury the Mega Mole in a Mega Mole-shaped snow sculpture as Bowser laughs through the situation.

A Mega Mole appears in volume 7, in which they block Mario and Yoshi's path telling them to give up their oseibo (a year-end gift). The Mega Mole is quickly defeated though, as Mario picks up them (referencing ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'') and throws the Mega Mole at Yoshi. In the final puzzle of the volume, a Mega Mole makes a brief cameo as one of the enemies featured in the maze. This makes it the only puzzle which features a Mega Mole.

Although normal Mega Moles do not appear in volume 9, a [[Venus Fire Trap]]-Mega Mole fusion known as [[Pakkun Mogura]] is seen as the main antagonist of the second chapter after the bodies of a Venus Fire Trap, a Monty Mole, a [[Muncher]] and a [[Nipper Plant]] are struck by lighting.
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===''Nintendo Adventure Books''===
{{inappropriate
|reason=Graphic and disturbing content
|text=In the [[Nintendo Adventure Books|Nintendo Adventure Book]] ''[[Dinosaur Dilemma]]'', if Mario offers a [[basket of apples]] to Yoshi and some dinosaurs he finds near Lake Trilobite, a Mega Mole will burst out of the dinosaur costume seizing Mario's sleeve. The other dinosaurs (including [[Yoshi]]) will turn out to be Mega Moles in disguise, and will surround Mario after removing their costumes, they proceed to eat Mario offscreen which leads to a [[Game Over]]. Some more Mega Moles can be encountered in the basement of a decrepit mansion, where two of them (though these ones are referred to as furry objects) can be seen in the distance blocking the exit sign. If Mario goes deeper in the cellar, he meets three Mega Moles that sniff him before biting and chasing Mario, attempting to eat him. If Mario chooses the right path, he remembers that Mega Moles have poor eyesight and steps out the way making the Mega Moles run past him as Mario makes an escape (getting a few [[coin]]s on the ground as well). Choosing the wrong path will lead to a Game Over, when Mario blindly falls into a watery pit inhabited by a [[Blargg]].

In ''[[Flown the Koopa]]'', some Mega Moles and [[Koopa Troopa]]s appear among the crowds at the [[International Dino-Flying Derby]], eyeing Mario and his friends hungrily once the show ends. Later in a swamp area, if Mario and Luigi don some Mega Mole costumes (which are covered with matted gray fur), six real ones will approach the two with gifts. If the Mario Bros. choose to go with the Mega Moles, Mario and [[Luigi]] will "befriend" the Mega Moles by singing old plumbing songs and exchanging cookie recipes with each other. Mario and Luigi also have a plan to go in the Mega Mole's cave and load up on supplies, before bursting through the castle with the help of the Mega Moles. Once they arrive at the Mega Moles' cave lair, the Mega Moles continue stuffing the plumbers with food, as well as weighing them down with "gifts". Mario then looks at the several leather-bound books before grabbing a book called ''[[Mega Moles In The Mist]] by [[Diane Flossy]]''. The book explains that the Mega Moles often "befriend" their victims and bring them back to their lair to overfeed and shower them in "gifts" to make them not able to escape (though it is unknown what the Mega Moles do to their victims after they can't escape). The Mario Bros. realize that they have no way of escaping from the Mega Moles before finishing the book, leading to a Game Over. If the Mario Bros. do not go with the Mega Moles, they will realize that the Mega Moles are trying to trick them, before quickly going back to the ship to wear the dinosaur costumes instead. Finally, another group of Mega Moles will attack Mario and Luigi, causing a Game Over, if they decide to explore a dark portion of [[Magikoopa]]'s [[Fortress]] with a [[flashlight]], which quickly dies on them since the Mega Moles can see very well in the dark.
}}

In ''[[Unjust Desserts]]'', some Mega Moles are shrunk by Magikoopa, and sent into Yoshi's body after Mario, though the hero never encounters any inside the dinosaur, just in the palace garden when he and all the creatures Yoshi and Luigi had eaten are spat up by them. The name Mega Mole also appears in one of the puzzles.

===''Super Mario Adventures''===
[[File:Red Tuxedo Monty Mole And Blue Tuxedo Mega Mole.png|150px|thumb]]
In ''[[Super Mario Adventures]]'', multiple Mega Moles wearing blue tuxedos can be seen being among several other [[Koopa Troop]] members attending  [[Bowser]]'s wedding with [[Princess Peach]] in the penultimate issue. One of the blue tuxedo wearing Mega Moles is also accompanied by a red tuxedo wearing [[Monty Mole]] as well.

===''Mario Undōkai''===
In ''[[Mario Undōkai]]'', a singular Mega Mole has a minor role in the [[sports course]], in which it holds up a sign showing which sport is going to be played next.

===''Mario Family''===
[[File:MegaMole MarioFamily.png|thumb|left|]]
A Mega Mole appears in ''[[Mario Family]]'', as one of the sewing designs that the player can print out.

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===''Mario Strikers Charged''===
[[File:MSC Mega Mole hieroglyphics.jpg|thumb|left|The Mega Mole hieroglyphics seen in ''Mario Strikers Charged'']]
Mega Moles make a small cameo in ''[[Mario Strikers Charged]]'', where the pillars from [[The Sand Tomb]] depict the sprites of their appearance from  ''[[Super Mario World]]'', along with other sprites of other characters and enemies from various older ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' titles.
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===Other appearances===
Mega Moles appeared in a ''Mario''-themed [[Kirin Lemon]] commercial, being much smaller than they are usually depicted. When [[Yoshi]] eats one of the Mega Moles, he spits fire, which does not happen in [[Super Mario World|their debut game]].<ref>{{media link|Kirin Lemon SMW commercial.ogv|Kirin Lemon commercial}}</ref>

A Mega Mole appears in a Japanese commercial for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] version of ''[[Wario's Woods]]'', despite never appearing in the actual game.<ref>{{media link|New Famicom & WW commercial.ogv|Japanese New Famicom and ''Wario's Woods'' commercial}}</ref>

Mega Moles are also among the various characters and enemy species featured on several of the [[Mario Quiz Card|''Mario'' Quiz Cards]] to list three options to a card's question.

As seen in some concept art from the [[Nintendo Switch]] [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|remake]] of ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', a Mega Mole donning a black tuxedo and fedora was once planned to appear in the game as a crime boss-type NPC alongside several similarly dressed [[Monty Mole]] lackeys working for them. However, for unknown reasons, both the crime boss Mega Mole and Monty Moles were scrapped in favor for [[Don Pianta]].

==List of appearances==
{{rewrite-expand|include appearances in television, publications, and other media in their own sub-sections}}
===Video games===
{|class="table"
|-style="background:#BC8908;color:#FFF"
!Title !! Year of release !! System/format !! Role
|-
|''[[Super Mario World]]'' || [[1990]] || [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] || Appears as an enemy
|-
|''[[Mario Undōkai]]'' || [[1993]] || [[Arcade]] || Appears as a referee for the sports course
|-
|''[[Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World]]'' || [[1994]] || Super Nintendo Entertainment System || Same as in ''Super Mario World''
|-
|''[[Mario Family]]'' || [[2001]] || [[Game Boy Color]] || Featured as one of the sewing pattern designs
|-
|''[[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2]]'' || 2001 || [[Game Boy Advance]] || Same as in ''Super Mario World''
|-
|''[[Mario Strikers Charged]]'' || [[2007]] || [[Wii]] || Cameo on the pillars in [[The Sand Tomb]] 
|}

==Profiles and statistics==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario World''====
*'''''[[Mario Mania]]'':''' ''Mega Mole may have bad eyesight, but his Mario-seeking radar is keen. Mario can actually put him to good use: hop right on and hitch a ride.''<ref name=MM/>
*'''Shogakukan guide''' (page 28): モクラの親玉。上には乗れるけど踏んでも倒せない。挟み打ちにされることが多いので、天井の低い所では注意！マントで倒せるのは意外。 (''Head of the moles. It can be ridden on but stepping on it won't defeat it. Be careful of places with low ceilings, as they tend to pin you down! The Cape can defeat it, surprisingly.'')

====''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''====
*'''[[Prima Games]]:''' ''Large versions of Monty Moles, these guys are fast for their size, but they don’t jump out of the ground at you.''<ref name=Prima/>

===''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]''===
'''<big>インディー</big>'''<br>
'''種族''' ビースト族<br>
'''性格''' せっかち<br>
'''登場ゲーム''' ワールド<br>
'''<big>ちょっと乗らせてくださいね</big><br>
洞窟のコースに登場する、モグラだちの親分。大きな体だが、ヨッシーで食べることもできる。上に乗ることができるので、橋渡しの台として使うととつても便利。<ref>''Perfect Edition of the Great Mario Character Encyclopedia''. Page 41.</ref>

'''''<big>Mega Mole</big>'''''<br>
''Tribe: Beast clan''<br>
''Disposition: Hasty''<br>
''Game appearances: World''<br>
'''''<big>Let me give you a ride.</big>'''''<br>
''The master of the moles that appears on the cave courses. It has a large body, but it can be eaten by Yoshi. It is very convenient to use it as a bridge platform because you can ride on top of it.''

===Japanese ''[[Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]''===
'''Bio:''' 大きな体で前進してくるモグラ。頭に乗ることができ、移動手段に使える。<ref>「スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (''Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook''), page 54.</ref>(''A large-bodied mole that moves forward. It can be ridden on its head and used as a means of transportation.'')

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=180>
SMWGroupPoster.jpg|''Super Mario World'' artwork
SMW Cupboard rack combo.jpg|''[[Kurogane Kosakusho]]''
Kirin Lemon commercial 04.jpg|{{wp|Kirin Company|Kirin Lemon}} commercial
Mega Mole Complete Encyclopedia.png|Artwork from ''Super Mario Zen Hyakka''
Mega Mole plush.jpg|A plush of a Mega Mole made by {{wp|Banpresto}} in [[1992]]
SMW Baby Chair.jpg|A ''Super Mario World'' themed chair from 1992
Mario Puzzle Artwork 2.png|Artwork used for a ''Mario'' puzzle
Mario Puzzle Artwork 3.jpg|Artwork used for a ''Mario'' puzzle
SMSQPB2 Tug of War.png|''Super Mario Story Quiz Picture Book 2: Mario's Sports Day''
SMPBS1 Activity8.jpg|''Super Mario Picture Book with Peel-and-Release Stickers 1: Get Yoshi Back''
Mega Mole Undokai first sprint sign.png|Mega Mole holding a sign for the 100m sprint event in ''Mario Undōkai''
Famicom Wario's Woods commercial 04.png|Japanese commercial for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] version of ''[[Wario's Woods]]''
SMKun 7 puzzle 8.png|''Super Mario-kun'' (volume 7)
PEGMCE Cover.png|''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]''
1996 NCM sizechartC.png|Size chart for a 1996 ''Nintendo Character Manual''
Mega Mole gray MF sprite.png|''Mario Family'' sprite (grayscale)
Mega Mole gray MF icon.png|''Mario Family'' icon (grayscale)
Super Mario Bros 35 SMW Enemies.jpg|Several ''Super Mario World'' enemies in a Japanese tweet celebrating the ''[[Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary]]''
PMTTYDNS concept art characters 10.png|''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' ([[Nintendo Switch]], bonus concept art of [[Don Pianta]] for [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door|the original game]])
</gallery>

===''Mario'' Quiz Card appearances===
<gallery widths=180>
Kendo Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about {{wp|Kendo}}
Monastery Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about a monastery
Muslim language Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking which language Muslims commonly use
Norse God of Thunder Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking who the Norse God of Thunder is
Cashmere Quiz Card.png||A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about {{wp|cashmere wool|cashmeres}}
Puppy nursing Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking how long puppies usually nurse
Beagle Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what a beagle is
Largest crater Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking where the largest crater is
Unexplored regions Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking if the Earth has any unexplored regions
Region continent Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking which of the regions are a continent
Scribe Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what a scribe is
Conestoga wagon Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what a Conestoga wagon is
Earache Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about earaches
Stanford-Binet test Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about a {{wp|Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales|Stanford-Binet test}}
Calorie Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what a calorie is
Sunscreen Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking about the purpose of sunscreen
Asthma Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what asthma is
Hurricane prediction Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking if hurricanes can be predicted
Ball lightning Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what ball lightning is
Bermuda Triangle Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about the {{wp|Bermuda Triangle}}
Tibet Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking if Tibet is a part of the United Nations
Souk Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what a souk is
Wheat Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about wheat
Modern fishing nets Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about modern fishing nets
Radioactivity discovery Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking who discovered radioactivity
Thinly sliced wood Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking which building material is made from thinly-sliced wood
Draftee Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about draftees
Fable Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about fables
Mollusks Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card about mollusks
White dwarf Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking what a white dwarf is
Gibbons Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking where gibbons live
Spider bite Mario Quiz Card.png|A ''Mario'' Quiz Card asking if spider bites can be dangerous
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=インディー<ref name=Book1/>
|JapR=Indī
|JapM=Indy
|Jap2=インディ<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20001209080900/http://www.camelot.co.jp/gimon/gimon13.html Japanese Camelot Q & A]. Retrieved May 28, 2008.</ref>
|Jap2R=Indi
|Jap2M=Alternate spelling of Indy
|Spa=Megatopo
|SpaM=Mega Mole
|Fra=Top Taupe<br>Topi Taupe Géant<ref>Sawada, Yukio. (2015). ''Super Mario Manga Adventures'', volume 5</ref><ref>Sawada, Yukio. (2015). ''Super Mario Manga Adventures'', volume 6</ref><br>Indy<ref>Sawada, Yukio. (2014). ''Super Mario Manga Adventures'', volume 1</ref>
|FraM=From [[Monty Mole#Names in other languages|Topi Taupe]]<br>Giant Monty Mole<br>Same as the Japanese name for Mega Mole
|Ger=Riesen-Monty<br>Mega Monty
|GerM=Giant Monty (''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'')<br>Mega Monty (''Super Mario World'', ''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia'')
|Chi=大鼹鼠
|ChiR=Dà Yǎnshǔ
|ChiM=Big Mole
|Ita=Mega Tantatalpa<ref>''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''; pag. 55</ref>
|ItaM=Mega Monty Mole
}}

==Trivia==
*Mega Moles are confirmed to be eight feet tall in ''Flown The Koopa'', though they are around the same height as Mario in both ''Super Mario World'' and on the size chart for the 1993 ''Nintendo Character Manual''.
*The Mega Moles depiction in the ''Nintendo Adventure Books'' act completely differently to their appearances in any other piece of Mario media, as they act much more animalistic and malicious.
*The [[Presenter]]s from the original ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' look nearly identical to Mega Moles, with the only differences that Presenters have being their size, yellow fur color, and their red bowtie.
*In the files for ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', another enlarged Monty Mole species named [[Morty Mole]] has their filename labeled as "Indy", which is the Japanese name for Mega Mole.<ref>''Super Mario 3D Land'' internal filename (<tt>Indy</tt>)</ref> This could likely mean that Morty Moles were inspired by Mega Moles during development, and also likely being relatives to Mega Moles as well.

==References==
<references/>

{{Monty Moles}}
{{SMW}}
[[Category:Monty Moles]]
[[Category:Platforms]]
[[Category:Variants]]
[[Category:Dinosaur Dilemma enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario World enemies]]
[[Category:Unjust Desserts]]