Daurian blind mole rat
| Daurian blind mole rat | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Myospalax aspalax | ||||||||||||
| ( Pallas , 1776) |
The Daurian blind mole rat ( Myospalax aspalax ) is a rodent in the subfamily of the blind mole rat .
features
The species reaches a head-trunk length of 14 to 23.3 cm, a tail length of 4.8 to 6.9 cm and a weight of 225 to 422 g. The fur on the upper side is predominantly gray-yellow, occasionally with a brown shade. Some specimens have one or more white spots on the forehead. The lips are also white. The underside is covered with light gray fur. There are short white hairs on the tail and on the top of the hind feet.
distribution
The Daurian blind mole rat occurs with two populations in Asia , the first in northeast China , the second in northeast Mongolia and in neighboring areas of Russia . The habitat varies between steppes that are rich in herbaceous plants, vegetation on river banks, forest edges and arable land.
Way of life
Like its close relatives, this blind muck digs underground tunnel systems that are more or less complex depending on the season. During the summer, the deepest areas of the burrow are usually 30 to 50 cm below the surface of the earth. In winter, individual chambers can be 2 meters deep. The distance between the exits, at which, like moles, mounds with a diameter of 50 to 70 cm are thrown up, is 1 to 3 meters. Outside the mating season, each individual lives alone in its burrow. For mating in May or June, the blind mole dig a transition from the burrow of the male to the burrow of the female. About a month later, the female gives birth to up to five young. These stay in the mother's burrow until autumn and leave it when they are about 15 cm long.
The food consists mainly of roots and green plants that are pulled into the tunnel by the roots. The food stored in the chambers can weigh up to 9 kg.
status
No significant dangers are known for the population of the Daurian blind mole rat. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN .
Individual evidence
- ↑ 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, Myospalax aspalax ).
- ↑ Andrew T. Smith & Yan Xie: Mammals of China. 2013, p. 102, ISBN 978-0-691-15427-5 . ( Zorkor steppe )
- ↑ a b c d Myospalax aspalax in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: Shar, S. & Lkhagvasuren, D., 2008. Accessed July 24, 2016th