Katanga-Graumull

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Katanga-Graumull
Systematics
Order : Rodents (Rodentia)
Subordination : Porcupine relatives (Hystricomorpha)
Partial order : Hystricognathi
Family : Sand graves (Bathyergidae)
Genre : Gray Owl ( Fukomys )
Type : Katanga-Graumull
Scientific name
Fukomys vandewoestijneae
Van Daele , Blondé , Stjernstedt & Adriaens , 2013

The Katanga Graumull ( Fukomys vandewoestijneae , Syn. : Cryptomys vandewoestijneae ) is a type of fukomys ( Fukomys ) within the blesmol (Bathyergidae). Like other gray moulins, it is adapted to an underground and burrowing way of life. So far, the species has only been documented from the border area between the north-west of Zambia and the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ; it may also be found in neighboring Angola .

features

The Katanga gray bull corresponds in its external characteristics to Bocages gray bull ( Fukomys bocagei ) and the giant gray bull ( Fukomys mechowi ) and can be distinguished from them mainly by cranial and tooth characteristics as well as molecular biological characteristics. He reaches a head-trunk length of 8.7 to 15.0 centimeters with a weight of 64 to 134 grams, the tail is very short with 1.4 to 2.7 centimeters in length. The medium-sized species has a completely brown fur with a grayish-brown belly side. The feet and nose are pink, a white mark on the head is missing or is only indistinctly recognizable. The incisor teeth are protruding. The chromosome set consists of 2n = 44 (FN = 76) chromosomes.

distribution

The Katanga Graumull is only documented from the border area between the north-west of Zambia and the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but it is also likely to occur in neighboring Angola .

Way of life

Very little to no information is available about the species' way of life. The sites are typically found in moist grassland and forest areas as well as in agricultural areas with relatively high amounts of precipitation. Like other fukomys also lives this way largely underground in colonies with several animals and digs burrows that animals feed on herbivores of roots, tubers and other plant parts. No information is available on the reproduction and activity of the animals.

Systematics

The Katanga gray mull is classified as an independent species within the genus of the gray mull ( Fukomys ), which consists of ten to fourteen species. The first scientific description comes from a working group led by Paul AAG Van Daele in 2013 and was made on the basis of molecular biological results using five individuals from different colonies, the holotype includes a fully-grown female. The river Sabitonto in the province of Katanga in the Congo is given as terra typica , the location of the specimen copy is at an altitude of 1308 m. The working group named the species after Caroline Van De Woestijne, van Daele's wife, who worked with him on the karyotype of the species. In the English-speaking world, the species is referred to as "Caroline's Molecular".

Apart from the nominate form, no subspecies are distinguished within the species .

Status, threat and protection

The Katanga gray mull is not yet listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) because it was scientifically described only a short time ago. The data available on the stocks is insufficient, so no statements can be made on the risk status. The range of the Katanga gray mull is characterized by a high biodiversity and a high rate of endemic species . One potential source of danger for the stocks is the removal of animals as a source of meat by the local population.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c d e f R. L. Honeycutt: Caroline's Mole-rat - Fukomys vandewoestijneae. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editors): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016; P. 370. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .
  2. ↑ a b c d Paul AAG Van Daele, Pieter Blondé, Robert Stjernstedt, Dominique Adriaens: A new species of African Mole-rat (Fukomys, Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from the Zaire-Zambezi Watershed. In: Zootaxa . Vol. 3636, No. 1, April 3, 2013, pp. 171-189, doi : 10.11646 / zootaxa.3636.1.7 .

literature

  • Paul AAG Van Daele, Pieter Blondé, Robert Stjernstedt, Dominique Adriaens: A new species of African Mole-rat (Fukomys, Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from the Zaire-Zambezi Watershed. In: Zootaxa . Vol. 3636, No. 1, April 3, 2013, pp. 171-189, doi : 10.11646 / zootaxa.3636.1.7 .
  • RL Honeycutt: Caroline's Mole-rat - Fukomys vandewoestijneae. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editors): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016; P. 370. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .

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