Yellow golden mole
| Yellow golden mole[1] | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Afrosoricida |
| Family: | Chrysochloridae |
| Genus: | Calcochloris |
| Species: | C. obtusirostris |
| Binomial name | |
| Calcochloris obtusirostris (Peters, 1851) | |
| |
| Yellow golden mole range | |
| Synonyms | |
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''Calcochloris antedates | |
The yellow golden mole (Calcochloris obtusirostris) is a species of mammal in the family Chrysochloridae. It is found in Mozambique, South Africa (KwaZulu-natal and the Limpopo), and Zimbabwe. The yellow golden mole's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry and moist lowland forests, savanna, arable land, pasture, plantations, and rural gardens.
The C. o. chrysillus subspecies occurs in coastal forests, savannas and northern KwaZulu-natal. All species of Calcochloris live close to human settlements and thrive in urban gardens and rural places.[2]
Yellow golden moles are likely to dig at the base of trees and create underground "nest" in which they forage for food. Its diet mainly consists of insecta, small lizards, flies, and other tiny animals found underground.[3]
Conservation status
This species has been classified as NT(Near Threatened) but the population trend is unknown.[4]
Skulls of three Calcochloris species
References
- ^ 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. 81. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b Maree, S. (2015). "Calcochloris obtusirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T3519A21284422. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T3519A21284422.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Yellow Golden Mole" (PDF).
- ^ "Endangered Wildlife Trust - Red Data". www.ewt.org.za. Retrieved 2019-01-22.