African mole rats

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African mole rats
Giant Mole Rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus)

Giant Mole Rat ( Tachyoryctes macrocephalus )

Systematics
Subordination : Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Spalacidae
Subfamily : Tachyoryctinae
Genre : African mole rats
Scientific name of the  subfamily
Tachyoryctinae
Miller & Gidley , 1918
Scientific name of the  genus
Tachyoryctes
Rüppell , 1835

The African mole rats ( Tachyoryctes ), also known as rapid burrowers , are a genus of rodents in the family Spalacidae .

features

The giant mole rat reaches a total length of about 31 cm and a weight of 330 to 930 grams. The East African mole rat is almost the same length with a head-trunk length of 16 to 26 cm and a tail length of 5 to 9.5 cm. Their weight is significantly lower at 160 to 280 grams. The hair on the tail is well developed. The color of the fur on the upper side varies between the individual specimens. Common colors are black, brown, reddish brown, light gray and cinnamon, and albinos are also relatively common. The first coat of the young is usually black. The underside often appears with a silvery sheen and is usually lighter than the back. In physique, the species resemble the American pocket rats (Geomyidae), but they lack the cheek pouches.

Way of life

These root rats live in rather humid regions. You come z. B. in open grasslands, savannas , marshland and on agricultural land.

Mole rats dig complex tunnel systems. There is an exit near the living chamber, which is upholstered with parts of plants and has separate areas for supplies and faeces , and there are also a number of branched corridors. The tunnels are usually 15 to 30 cm below the surface of the earth (rarely up to a meter deep) and can be 50 meters long. As with moles, there are piles of earth at the exits .

The diet consists mainly of subterranean plant parts such as roots and tubers. Sometimes the animals look for food above the surface. The latter is especially the case with the East African mole rat.

Outside the mating season , each specimen lives individually. Mole rats that were caged together reacted aggressively. When fighting, they keep their heads up, open their mouths wide and bite each other.

Females generally mate twice a year and the gestation period is between 37 and 49 days, depending on the area of ​​distribution. Usually one young or twins are born per litter (rarely up to four young). The young weigh 15 to 20 grams at birth and are suckled for four to six weeks. They have to leave the mother's den after about a month and become sexually mature in about the sixth month. These root rats can live to be three years in nature.

Systematics and distribution

The genus forms the subfamily Tachyoryctinae, partly they are combined with the bamboo rats ( Rhizomys ) and the small bamboo rat ( Cannomys badius ) as root rats (Rhizomyinae).

In the various papers, the authors differentiate between up to 13 types:

Often only two types are recognized, the giant mole rat ( Tachyoryctes macrocephalus ) and the East African mole rat ( Tachyoryctes splendens ).

status

In the past, the animals were hunted by African natives as a source of food. Today they are mainly fought as pests. The IUCN lists the Giant Mole Rat as Endangered and the East African Mole Rat as Least Concern .

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 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. 6th edition. 1999, p. 1443 ff.
  2. ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Tachyoryctes ).
  3. ^ Tachyoryctes Integrated Taxonomic Information System , Retrieved September 1, 2012
  4. ↑ a b Tachyoryctes in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011. Accessed September 1, 2012.

Web links

Commons : African mole rats ( Tachyoryctes )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files