Family: Chrysochloridae (golden moles)
Life
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Opisthokonta >
Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia >
Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates) >
Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost
fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class:
Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia
(terrestrial vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota >
Synapsida (mammal-like reptiles) > Therapsida > Theriodontia
> Cynodontia > Mammalia (mammals)
> Placentalia (placental mammals) >
Afrotheria > Afrosoricida
The common name of the golden mole is derived from the
characteristic iridescent sheen of the rich fur of the animal. They are
specially adapted for a burrowing mode of life. Their bodies are compact and
streamlined, a without external ear pinnae and no visible tail. The head is
wedge-shaped and the skin is thick and tough. The minute eyes have almost been
lost and are covered with skin. A leathery pad on the snout that aids with soil
excavations protects the nostrils. The ear ossicles are very large, providing
great sensitivity to vibrations in the surrounding soil, both for the detection
of food and approaching danger. The muscular head and shoulders push and pack
the soil and the strong forelimbs have large claws for digging. Three of the
four digits have elongated claws with the third being particularly powerful.
Golden moles are solitary each maintaining their own burrow system. They burrow
just below the soil surface forming ridges, these are thought to be for
foraging. These surface runs gives rise to one of their popular names amongst
the gardening fraternity - “runner moles”. They also excavate deeper permanent
burrows as refuges and for nesting where the excess soil is deposited on the
surface as molehills.
The golden moles are not related to
mole-rats. The latter are herbivorous rodents and have small, visible eyes,
short tails and massively developed chisel-like incisor teeth. The Golden moles
have small pointed teeth, typical of an insectivore.
Species indigenous to southern Africa
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