Actual moles
| Actual moles | ||||||||||||
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European mole ( Talpa europaea ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Talpini | ||||||||||||
| Fischer , 1817 |
The actual moles (Talpini) form a generic group ( tribe ) within the Old World Moles (Talpinae). This group includes over 30 species in six genera, of which the European mole is probably the best known representative.
description
Actual moles are adapted to an underground way of life. They have a cylindrical body, a pointed snout and usually a short, sparsely hairy tail. Their fur is short and the color can vary from black to gray to almost whitish. The front limbs are transformed into digging tools. They reach a head body length of 10 to 20 centimeters and a weight of 60 to 120 grams.
Way of life
Most of these animals live underground, where they build duct systems. Most of the time they are both diurnal and nocturnal, they have a high metabolic rate and have to eat a lot. Their diet consists mainly of earthworms and insect larvae, and occasionally they also eat small vertebrates.
Systematics
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Internal systematics of the actual moles according to He et al. 2016
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Overall, the actual moles are divided into six genera with more than 30 species, whereby there are different views with regard to the genera or number of species. Until recently, all species were grouped together in one genus, Talpa . The distribution area of many, especially the Asian species, is not exactly known. The species often only differ in the color of their fur or details in the structure of the skull and the number and shape of the teeth.
- The genus of the Eurasian moles ( Talpa ) is the only genus of this group that is widespread in Europe , it is also found in northern and western Asia . There are 14 different types, including the European mole ( T. europaea ).
- The Southeast Asian moles ( Euroscaptor ) comprise nine species that live in eastern and south-eastern Asia .
- The nine species of the East Asian moles ( Mogera ) are mainly native to Japan and China .
- The white-tailed mole is the only representative of the genus Parascaptor and lives in northeastern India and neighboring regions.
- The short-faced mole is the only member of the genus Scaptochirus . Its home is northeastern China.
- The Japanese mountain mole is the only member of the genus Oreoscaptor . It was originally part of the Southeast Asian moles, but according to genetic studies it is more closely related to the East Asian moles. He lives in mountainous regions on the Japanese island of Honshū .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kai He, Akio Shinohara, Kristofer M. Helgen, Mark S. Springer, Xue-Long Jiang and Kevin L. Campbell: Talpid Mole Phylogeny Unites Shrew Moles and Illuminates Overlooked Cryptic Species Diversity. Molecular Biology and Evolution 34 (1), 2016, pp. 78-87
- ↑ Shin-ichiro Kawada: Morphological Review of the Japanese Mountain Mole (Eulipotyphla, Talpidae) with the Proposal of a New Genus. Mammal Study 41 (4), 2016, pp. 191-205
- ↑ Boris Kryštufek and Masaharu Motokawa: Talpidae (Moles, Desmans, Star-nosed Moles and Shrew Moles). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths, Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 552–620 (p. 614) ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4