Chlorotalpa

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Chlorotalpa
Systematics
Subclass : Higher mammals (Eutheria)
Superordinate : Afrotheria
without rank: Afroinsectiphilia
Order : Tenrecus (Afrosoricida)
Family : Gold mole (Chrysochloridae)
Genre : Chlorotalpa
Scientific name
Chlorotalpa
Roberts , 1924

Chlorotalpa is a genus of mammals fromthe golden mole family (Chrysochloridae). The genus includes two species, both of which areendemicto South Africa . Sclaters gold mole occurs in the high altitudes of central and eastern South Africa and Lesothos , Duthies gold mole lives in a narrow strip on the south coast. The animals live in wooded areas and open grasslands, because of their more graceful physique they prefer soft arches. Like all gold mole, the representatives of Chlorotalpa are alsoadapted to an underground way of life. Their body is designed in a spindle-shaped manner, externally visible ears and a tail are missing, the front feet also have strong grave claws. The animals dig near-surface tunnel systems and feed on invertebrates . Overall, the further way of life is considered little explored. The two species were scientifically introduced in 1907, but they were not given their current generic name until 1924. The population of Sclater's gold mole is not endangered, whereas that of Duthie's gold mole is threatened.

features

Habitus

The representatives of the genus Chlorotalpa represent small members of the golden mole . Today's two species reach roughly the same height, their head-to-trunk length varies from 8.3 to 13.5 cm, and their body weight is 20 to 54 g. In general, the animals are physically similar to the moles , but they are not related to them. The body is adapted to a digging way of life. It has a spindle-shaped shape, ears and tail are not externally visible. The limbs are short and sturdy, with four rays in front and five in the back. The front feet in particular have strong digging claws, here the claw of the third finger is most strongly developed, those of the second and first are noticeably shorter. The eyes are also covered with fur and the snout has a leather-like padding, which is also used for digging. Compared to the related copper gold mole ( Amblysomus ), the representatives of Chlorotalpa have a much more delicate physique, and the claws of the forefeet show a slimmer design. The fur on the back is dark brown to reddish brown in color, the underside has a grayish tint. Occasional lighter colored spots appear on the face.

Skull and dentition features

The skull measures between 21.2 and 27.4 mm in length and between 13.7 and 17.6 mm in width. The greatest width is reached in the area of ​​the brain skull. Overall, the skull is comparatively slender, narrower than that of the cape gold mullet ( Chrysochloris ), but wider than that of the copper gold mole. The greatest width is 62 to 66% of the greatest length of the skull, the palate is narrow and has a width of less than 30% of the length of the skull. As with all gold mullets, the zygomatic arches are closed, but in Chlorotalpa they lack the broad plates pointing backwards, such as those found in the giant gold mole ( Chrysospalax ). A striking anatomical feature is the enlarged and clearly rounded head of the hammer in the middle ear , the entire ossicle weighs around 3 mg. The head of the malleus is not as markedly elongated as in Arends' gold mole ( Carpitalpa ) or is club-shaped as in the cape gold mole. As a result, the temporal bone also has no externally protruding, bony bladder as in the latter, which in these houses the head of the hammer. In teeth 40 teeth are provided with the following tooth formula is formed: . A well-developed talonid appears on the lower molars (a deep protrusion of the chewing surface into which one of the main cusps of the upper molars engages when the bite is closed). The rearmost (third) molar is relatively small, but like the other molars has a tricuspid occlusal surface pattern. The first lower premolar is similarly designed , while the corresponding upper one lacks one of the main cusps. The length of the upper row of teeth from the canine to the third molar is 5 to 7.7 mm.

distribution

The genus Chlorotalpa occurs with two species endemic to southern Africa . Sclaters gold mole ( Chlorotalpa sclateri ) lives in a relatively large, but not contiguous area in the central and eastern part of South Africa and is also found in Lesotho . The population is divided into four subspecies. In contrast, Duthie's golden mole rat ( Chlorotalpa duthieae ) is native to a narrow strip along the south coast, where it divides into two spatially separated subpopulations. The species each prefer different habitats . The former is found in grasslands and ravine forests of the highlands, the latter in coastal forests. Due to their more slender physique compared to the externally similar copper gold mole ( Amblysomus ) and the slimmer grave claws, they are bound to sandy and thus softer soils. The animals can be observed locally quite frequently, some populations also penetrate into cultivated areas, but no meaningful data are available on the population density.

Way of life

Little is known about the way of life of the representatives of Chlorotalpa . Like all gold mole, they live solitary and underground, where they create passages close to the surface to search for food. These corridors often run radially outwards from a nest-like resting place. The main activities take place at night, the animals only enter the surface after heavy rainfall. Due to the moderately enlarged malleus of the middle ear, they are probably better able to perceive seismic vibrations underground. It is not known whether this is also associated with the ability to detect low-frequency sounds on the surface. The diet is likely to consist mainly of invertebrates such as earthworms and insect larvae , as a few examined stomach contents show. Hardly any data are available on reproduction. Pregnant females have so far been observed mainly in the summer months, so that the mating season remains limited to this short, humid season.

Systematics

Internal systematics of the gold mole according to Asher et al. 2010
 Chrysochloridae  




 Eremitalpa


   

 Huetia


   

 Cryptochloris


   

 Chrysochloris





   

 Chrysospalax



   

 Calcochloris



  Chlorotalpa  

 Chlorotalpa duthieae


   

 Chlorotalpa sclateri



   


 Carpitalpa


   

 Neamblysomus



   

 Amblysomus



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Template: Klade / Maintenance / Style

Chlorotalpa is a genus from the family of the golden mole (Chrysochloridae) within the parentage of the Afrotheria . The family consists of smaller, soil-digging mammals with an endemic distribution in Africa . The species occur mainly in the southern part of the continent, a few can also be found in the eastern or central part. The tenreks (Tenrecidae), which are also common in Africa, can be regarded as the closest relatives of the golden mole ; both together form the order of the Afrosoricida . According to molecular genetic studies, the golden mole and tenreks separated in the transition from the Upper Cretaceous to the Paleocene around 65 million years ago, while the golden mole began to diversify more strongly during the Oligocene around 28.5 million years ago.

The underground way of life means that the gold mole form habitat specialists . The occurrence of numerous species is clearly limited locally. Two ecological groups have differentiated themselves within the family. A species with includes an adaptation to dry to some semi-desert regions, such as the Grant's golden mole ( Eremitalpa ) or chrysochloris ( Chrysochloris ). The second group includes the inhabitants of open grass and savannah landscapes as well as forests, for example the copper gold mole, the giant gold mulle ( Chrysospalax ), Arends' gold mole ( Carpitalpa ) or the representatives of chlorotalpa . The internal structure of the family has not yet been fully clarified. The design of the hammer in the middle ear advocates the division into two or three subfamilies: the Amblysominae with a normally built malleus, the Chrysochlorinae with a greatly elongated head of the malleus and the Eremitalpinae with a spherically inflated head of the malleus. The latter two are, however, also grouped by some scientists into a subfamily, the Chrysochlorinae. This subdivision of the gold mole, based on differences in skeletal anatomy, has not yet been fully supported by molecular genetic analyzes. According to these, Chlorotalpa, despite the enlarged malleus, has an intermediate position between a group consisting of Amblysomus , Neamblysomus and Carpitalpa ("Amblysominae") and another group consisting of Chrysochloris , Chrysospalax , Cryptochloris and others ("Chrysochlorinae").

Two species living today are distinguished:

In addition, a fossil species is documented:

Austin Roberts

In some cases, Arends' gold mole was also listed within Chlorotalpa , while some authors also referred members of the genus Calcochloris there. Still others assigned all three genera to the copper-gold gulls. However, there are significant differences between the individual genera in the design of the skull and in special dentition features. For example, the representatives of Chlorotalpa and Arends' Goldmull have a rearmost, third molar, but this is missing in those of Calcochloris and in the Kupfergoldmullen. Furthermore, the Chlorotalpa species and the copper gold mole have a pronounced talonid on the lower molars, which is not developed in Calcochloris and Arends' gold mole. There are also deviations in the expression of the hyoid bone and also in the karyotype . Because of this, a division into different genera, as introduced by Gary N. Bronner in the mid-1990s, seems to be entirely justified; it was subsequently also confirmed by molecular genetic analyzes.

While the two current representatives of Chlorotalpa had already been introduced in 1907 by Robert Broom in two independent writings, the first scientific description of the genus followed 17 years later by Austin Roberts . He saw clear differences to the copper gold mole in the higher number of teeth in the dentition and the more delicate build. On the other hand, both genera are generally similar in the shape of the skull, which, however, is significantly slimmer compared to that of the Cape Gold Mulle. Roberts Duthies identified gold mole as a type species.

Tribal history

Fossil finds from Goldmullen are rather sparse. Some of the few known came to light from the important South African cave site of Sterkfontein near Johannesburg . The deposits date to the Lower Pleistocene and are between 1 and 2 million years old. A well-preserved skull 23.4 mm long and 14.9 mm wide formed the basis for the species Chlorotalpa spelaea established by Robert Broom in 1941 . Since the skull is largely toothless, Broom mainly used some skull proportions to distinguish it from the more recent representatives of the genus. Overall, the skull of Chlorotalpa spelaea is slightly longer and narrower than that of Sclaters Goldmull. However, the skull would have to be prepared again for more detailed anatomical examinations. An additional lower jaw fragment, which was also discovered during the early investigation period of the cave station, could represent one of today's species, possibly Sclater's gold mole, which is no longer native there today. Later research campaigns found further remains of the lower jaw of gold mole rats; they were also referred to Chlorotalpa at the beginning . Some researchers are skeptical about this today, as the lack of the talonid on the molars is more likely to be associated with the genus Neamblysomus . Remains of the extensive Pleistocene deposits of the Wonderwerk cave south of Kuruman in the South African province of North Cape are only found in general for the genus Chlorotalpa .

Threat and protection

Sclaters Goldmull is listed by the IUCN as "not threatened" ( least concern ) due to its wide distribution , but its area of ​​distribution is split up and partially affected by overgrazing due to intensive grazing. The IUCN assesses the population of Duthies Goldmull as "threatened" ( vulnerable ) due to the much more limited distribution area and the fact that it is only a few localities . In addition, the region is experiencing significant habitat changes due to economic development. Both species are present in nature reserves.

literature

  • Gary N. Bronner and Nigel C. Bennett: Genus Chlorotalpa Roberts, 1924. In: John D. Skinner and Christian T. Chimimba (Eds.): The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Cambridge University Press, 2005, pp. 10-12
  • Gary N. Bronner: Genus Chlorotalpa Golden-moles. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume I. Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 239–241
  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
  • William A. Taylor, Samantha Mynhardt and Sarita Maree: Chrysochloridae (Golden moles). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 180–203 ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4
  • Don E. Wilson and DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . 3rd edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c d e f Gary N. Bronner and Nigel C. Bennett: Genus Chlorotalpa Roberts, 1924. In: John D. Skinner and Christian T. Chimimba (Eds.): The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Cambridge University Press, 2005, pp. 10-12
  2. ↑ a b c d e f Gary N. Bronner: Genus Chlorotalpa Golden-moles. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume I. Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 239–241
  3. ↑ Matthew J. Mason, Sarah J. Lucas, Erica R. Wise, Robin S. Stein and Melinda J. Duer: Ossicular density in golden moles (Chrysochloridae). Journal of Comparative Physiology A 192, 2006, pp. 1349-1357
  4. ^ A b c Matthew J. Mason: Functional Morphology of the Middle Ear in Chlorotalpa Golden Moles (Mammalia, Chrysochloridae): Predictions From Three Models. Journal of Morphology 261, 2004, pp. 162-174
  5. ↑ a b c d Robert J. Asher, Sarita Maree, Gary Bronner, Nigel C. Bennett, Paulette Bloomer, Paul Czechowski, Matthias Meyer and Michael Hofreiter: A phylogenetic estimate for golden moles (Mammalia, Afrotheria, Chrysochloridae). MC Evolutionary Biology 10, 2010, p. 69 doi : 10.1186 / 1471-2148-10-69
  6. Jump up ↑ Robert W. Meredith, Jan E. Janečka, John Gatesy, Oliver A. Ryder, Colleen A. Fisher, Emma C. Teeling, Alisha Goodbla, Eduardo Eizirik, Taiz LL Simão, Tanja Stadler, Daniel L. Rabosky, Rodney L. Honeycutt, John J. Flynn, Colleen M. Ingram, Cynthia Steiner, Tiffani L. Williams, Terence J. Robinson, Angela Burk-Herrick, Michael Westerman, Nadia A. Ayoub, Mark S. Springer, and William J. Murphy: Impacts of the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution and KPg Extinction on Mammal Diversification. Science 334, 2011, pp. 521-524
  7. ↑ C. Gilbert, PC O'Brien, G. Bronner, F. Yang, A. Hassanin, MA Ferguson-Smith and TJ Robinson: Chromosome painting and molecular dating indicate a low rate of chromosomal evolution in golden moles (Mammalia, Chrysochloridae) . Chromosome Research 14, 2006, pp. 793-803
  8. ^ Gary N. Bronner: Order Afrosoricida Tenrecs, Otter-Shrews, Golden-moles. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume I. Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 214-215
  9. ^ A b Alberto M. Simonetta: A new golden mole from Somalia with an appendix on the taxonomy of the family Chrysochloridae (Mammalia, Insectivora). Monitore Zoologico Italiano NS Supplement 2, 1968, pp. 27-55
  10. ^ Gary N. Bronner: Family Chrysochloridae Golden-moles. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume I. Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 223-225
  11. ^ William A. Taylor, Samantha Mynhardt and Sarita Maree: Chrysochloridae (Golden moles). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 180–203 ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4
  12. ^ A b Robert Broom: On two Pleistocene Golden moles. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 20, 1941, pp. 215-216
  13. ^ F. Petter: Remarques sur la systematique des Chrysochlorides. Mammalia 45 (1), 1981, pp. 49-53
  14. ^ Gary N. Bronner: Comparative hyoid morphology of nine chrysochlorid species (Mammalia: Chrysochloridae). Annals of the Transvaal Museum 35 (21), 1991, pp. 295-311
  15. ^ Gary N. Bronner: Cytogenetic Properties of Nine Species of Golden Moles (Insectivora: Chrysochloridae). Journal of Mammalogy 76 (3), 1995, pp. 957-971
  16. ^ Robert Broom: On some new species of Chrysochloris. The Annals and magazine of natural history 7 (19), 1907, pp. 262–268 ( [1] )
  17. ^ Robert Broom: A contribution to the knowledge of the cape golden moles. Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 18, 1907, pp. 283-311 ( [2] )
  18. ^ Austin Roberts: Some additions to the list of South African mammals. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 10 (2), 1924, pp. 59-76
  19. ^ A b Diana M. Avery: An assessment of the Lower Pleistocene micromammalian fauna from Swartkrans Members 1-3, Gauteng, South Africa. Geobios 31 (3), 1998, pp. 393-414
  20. ^ Diana M. Avery: The Plio-Pleistocene vegetation and climate of Sterkfontein and Swartkrans, South Africa, based on micromammals. Journal of Human Evolution 41, 2001, pp. 113-132
  21. ↑ TN Pocock: Plio-Pleistocene fossil mammalian microfauna of Southern Africa - a preliminary report including description of two new fossil muroid genera (Mammalia: Rodentia). Palaeontologia Africana 26, 1987, pp. 69-91
  22. ^ Diana M. Avery, Dominic J. Stratford and Frank Sénégas: Micromammals and the formation of the Name Chamber at Sterkfontein, South Africa. Geobios 43, 2010, pp. 379-387
  23. ↑ DM Avery: Pleistocene micromammals from Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa: practical issues. Journal of Archaeological Science 34, 2007, pp. 613-625
  24. ↑ Robert J Asher: Tenrecoidea. In: Lars Werdelin and William Joseph Sanders (eds.): Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press, Berkeley, London, New York, 2010, pp. 99-106
  25. ^ Gary N. Bronner: Chlorotalpa sclateri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. e.T4766A21285759. ( [3] ); last accessed on January 14, 2016
  26. ^ Gary N. Bronner: Chlorotalpa duthieae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. e.T4768A21285581 ( [4] ); last accessed on January 14, 2016

Web links

Commons : Chlorotalpa  - collection of images, videos and audio files