D. pilirostris is a mole resembling the
Japanese shrew mole, with a head-body length of about 6½ cm covered in thick, 5 mm long, darkbrown fur with a strong greenish metallic lustre, and a tail of about 3½ cm, covered with dark hair of about 7 mm. The palms and soles are covered in darkbrown scales. It differs somewhat from
Urotrichus in overall size (smaller) and the relative size of its body parts (such as a relatively longer tail). Its
dentition however differs remarkably. The first
incisor in the upper jaw is low and broad, the broadest of all teeth in front of the true
molars. The second is nearly as broad and comparable in shape. The third incisor and the
canine are simple and rounded and about ¼ of the other incisors. The teeth in the lower jaw compare to those in the upper jaw, but the second incisor has an additional conic cusp at its back, there is no third incisor and the canine is minute. ==References==