De Winton's golden mole
De Winton's golden mole[1] | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Afrosoricida |
Family: | Chrysochloridae |
Genus: | Cryptochloris |
Species: | C. wintoni
|
Binomial name | |
Cryptochloris wintoni (Broom, 1907)
| |
De Winton's golden mole range | |
Synonyms | |
Cryptochloris zyli wintoni |
De Winton's golden mole (Cryptochloris wintoni) is a species of
Following a sighting in 1937, De Winton's golden mole was not observed for over 86 years until its rediscovery in 2023.[4]
Description
De Winton's golden mole resembles Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti) in appearance. The upper parts have short dense fur that is slate-grey with a yellowish tinge. Individual hairs have grey bases, whitish shafts and fawn tips. The face, cheeks and lips have a more intense yellowish tinge. The underparts are rather paler than the upper parts, individual hairs having white tips. The claw on the third digit on the forefoot is about 10.5 mm (0.41 in) long and 4 mm (0.16 in) wide at the base. Claw two is slightly shorter and claw one shorter still, making a pointed digging tool.[5]
Status
De Winton's golden mole is known from a single location. It occupies the same range as Grant's golden mole and the two may have been confused. However,
In 2017, De Winton's golden mole was listed among the 25 "most wanted lost" species for Re:wild's "Search for Lost Species" initiative, having not been seen since 1937.[6][7] De Winton's golden mole was rediscovered in 2023 using data and samples from surveys conducted in 2021, including environmental DNA, burrow traces, and sniffer dogs. The findings pointed to a healthy population of De Winton's golden mole in the area. The survey's findings also suggest that the species may be far more widespread than thought, as eDNA evidence was found from Port Nolloth (near the species' original type locality) as far south as Lambert's Bay. However, it is still thought to be very rare over this distribution, and still under threat from mining.[4][8]
References
- OCLC 62265494.
- . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ISSN 0009-4978.
- ^ ISSN 1572-9710.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-8996-2.
- ^ "The Search for Lost Species". Global Wildlife Conservation. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
- ^ Bailey, Stephanie (August 27, 2021). "This creature has been lost to science for over 80 years. Now, a team may have found it". CNN.
- ^ "The signs in the sand". www.rewild.org. Retrieved 2023-11-28.