Eospalax

Eospalax
	Chinese muck, depictions from Henri Milne Edwards 1868
Systematics
Superfamily :	Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family :	Spalacidae
Subfamily :	Blind mole rat (Myospalacinae)
Tribe :	Myospalacini
Genre :	Eospalax
Scientific name
	Eospalax
	GM Allen , 1938

Eospalax is a genus of comparatively large rodents within the blind mole rat (Myospalacinae). It consists of three species, all of which are endemic to the central and northeastern People's Republic of China .

features

The species of the genus Eospalax are relatively large compared to other rodents and reach body lengths of up to 25 centimeters with a weight of more than 600 grams. The tail is very short with a length of a few centimeters . The back fur is dark rust-brown to gray-brown. The ventral side is usually a little lighter in color and the head often has a white spot on the forehead.

The skull has a total length of 40 to 50 millimeters and is flat and broad. The front end of the nasal bones is sometimes noticeably notched and the bony eye ring can be protruding. Genus typical features of the skull are also the convex shaped back of the head, the very long incisor window in the upper jaw and the straight bony snout that forms a line with the flat skull.

distribution

The species of the genus Eospalax are endemic to the People's Republic of China . Their distribution areas include large parts of central and northeastern China.

Way of life

Eospalax species live in steppe meadows, mountain meadows, forest areas and bushes as well as in agricultural areas and ruderal areas . The animals feed on herbivores mainly of grasses, roots and underground parts of the plant stem. They live underground in the ground and build large and complex structures with storage rooms. The burrows of the Chinese blind mullet reach lengths of more than 100 meters and are characterized by mounds of loose earth in the area of the entrances and can be up to 1.8 or 2.4 meters deep.

The reproductive phase begins in early spring and the females give birth to one to three litters with two to seven young each year.

Systematics

Eospalax is classified as an independent genus within the blind mole rat (Myospalacinae). It was first described by Glover Morrill Allen as a subgenus in 1938. It consists of three species:

the Chinese blind mole rat ( Eospalax fontanierii )

the Rothschild blind mole rat ( Eospalax rothschildi )

the Smith's mole rat ( Eospalax smithii )

Partial all the species were Eospalax in the genus Myopalax arranged, however, considered, or generally as a closely related species associated with a common sub-genus.

Status, threat and protection

All species of the genus Eospalax are listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This is justified by the large distribution area and the frequent occurrence of the species. There are no potential threats to the survival of any of the species. In the 1990s, the Chinese blind muck was controlled as a pest in agricultural areas in Qinghai, which led to significant local declines. The original population density of 5 to 70 animals per hectare at the end of the 1980s was reduced by more than 30% as part of the measures.

supporting documents

^ Henri Milne Edwards : Recherches pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des mammifères: comprenant des considérations sur la classification de ces animaux. G. Masson, Paris 1868-1874; Plate 7. doi : 10.5962 / bhl.title.59889 .

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Andrew T. Smith: Genus Eospalax In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 209 ff.

↑ ^a ^b ^c Eospalax fontanierii in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.3. Listed by: AT Smith, CH Johnston, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2017., Eospalax rothschildi on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2017.3. Listed by: AT Smith, CH Johnston, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2017., Eospalax smithii on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2017.3. Listed by: AT Smith, CH Johnston, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2017.

↑ ^a ^b Eospalax . In: 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 .

↑ Eospalax fontanierii in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.3. Listed by: AT Smith, CH Johnston, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2017.

literature

Andrew T. Smith: Genus Eospalax In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 209 ff.

Web links

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

Eospalax . In: 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 .

[Milne_Edwards_1868-1] Henri Milne Edwards : Recherches pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des mammifères: comprenant des considérations sur la classification de ces animaux. G. Masson, Paris 1868-1874; Plate 7. doi : 10.5962 / bhl.title.59889 .

[Smith_&_Yan_Xie_2009-2] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Andrew T. Smith: Genus Eospalax In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 209 ff.