Sclater's golden mole

Sclater's golden mole (Chlorotalpa sclateri) is a species of mammal in the family Chrysochloridae. It is found in Lesotho and South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry and high-altitude shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, and urban areas. This species is locally common, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".^[2]

Sclater's golden mole[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Family:	Chrysochloridae
Genus:	Chlorotalpa
Species:	C. sclateri
Binomial name
Chlorotalpa sclateri (Broom, 1907)
Subspecies
Chlorotalpa sclateri guillarmodi Chlorotalpa sclateri montana Chlorotalpa sclateri sclateri Chlorotalpa sclateri shortridgei
Sclater's golden mole range
Synonyms
Amblysomus sclateri

Description

This is a small, stocky golden mole, growing to a head-and-body length of about 100 mm (3.94 in), males being slightly larger than females. The chin and face have creamy-yellow markings, including over the sub-dermal eyes and across the bridge of the nose. The upper parts are clad in glossy, reddish-brown fur with a darker streak running along the spine. The underparts are dull grey with a reddish tinge. The forefeet are slender, and there is no tail.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

Sclater's golden mole is endemic to southern Africa where it is found in South Africa and Lesotho. Its typical habitat is grasslands at high elevation, scrubland and forested kloofs. There are four subspecies, but the range of each is poorly understood, and they are generally delineated by geographical barriers.^[2]

Ecology

Adult Sclater's golden moles are generally solitary. The slender claws restrict it to soils in which tunnels can be easily dug. A central nesting tunnel is surrounded by long, shallow tunnels in which it forages for invertebrate prey, particularly earthworms and grubs. Breeding takes place in the wet season (December and January) at which time food is more abundant.^[3]

References

1. Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. Bronner, G. (2015). "Chlorotalpa sclateri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T4766A21285759. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T4766A21285759.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
3. Jonathan Kingdon; David Happold; Thomas Butynski; Michael Hoffmann; Meredith Happold; Jan Kalina (2013). Mammals of Africa. A&C Black. pp. 240–241. ISBN 978-1-4081-8996-2.