Spalacidae

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Spalacidae
Temporal range: Early Miocene–Recent
Lesser bamboo rat, Cannomys badius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Superfamily: Muroidea
Family: Spalacidae
Gray, 1821
Type genus
Spalax
Subfamilies

Spalacinae

Myospalacinae

Rhizomyinae

The Spalacidae, or spalacids, are a

monophyletic group.[citation needed] Members of the Spalacidae are often placed in the family Muridae
along with all other members of the Muroidea.

Characteristics

Spalacids are

external ears. In the zokors, which dig primarily with their feet, rather than their teeth, the front claws
are also massively enlarged. These features are least extreme in the bamboo rats, which spend at least some of their time above ground, foraging for food. They are most highly developed in the blind mole-rats, whose eyes are completely covered by skin, and entirely lack external ears or tails.

All of the spalacid species dig extensive burrows, which may include storage chambers for food, latrine chambers, and breeding nests. They are generally solitary animals, and do not share their tunnel complexes with other individuals. All the species are herbivores, feeding on roots, bulbs, and tubers.

They give birth to litters of up to six young after a gestation period between three and seven weeks, depending on the species. As with many other muroids, the young are born blind, hairless, and helpless. They may stay with the mother for several months before setting off to establish their own burrows, although some species disperse as soon as they are weaned.[1]

Characteristics

Norris et al.

ventrally to the roof of the palate, zygomatic plate absent or much reduced, nasolacrimal canal inside infraorbital canal, incisive foramina small to medium-sized, extensive neck musculature and prominent points of attachment on the occipitum, minimal reduction in M3 relative to M1 and M2, and a distinct orientation of the manubrium of the malleus
bone."

Classification

The spalacids are classified in three subfamilies, six genera, and 37 species.

Family Spalacidae

References