Short-faced mole
Short-faced mole | ||||||||||||
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
Scaptochirus | ||||||||||||
Milne-Edwards , 1867 | ||||||||||||
Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
Scaptochirus moschatus | ||||||||||||
Milne-Edwards , 1867 |
The short-faced mole ( Scaptochirus moschatus ) is a species of mammal from the mole family (Talpidae) living in China .
features
Short-faced moles have the typical physique of the actual moles with a cylindrical body and forelimbs transformed into digging tools. However, they differ from other moles in their head structure: the muzzle is comparatively short and wide, the molars are larger, but the number of premolars is reduced. The fur is colored uniformly gray-brown. These animals reach a head body length of around 14 centimeters, plus a tail 1 to 1.5 centimeters long.
Distribution and way of life
Short-faced moles are native to northeast China , their range includes the provinces of Hebei , Shandong , Shaanxi and Shanxi . Their habitat is likely to be dry, sandy soils.
Little is known about the way of life of these animals, but it should agree with that of the other real moles. According to this, they mostly live underground, where they set up passage systems. Their diet consists primarily of insect larvae.
According to the IUCN, the species is not an endangered species.
Systematics
The short-faced mole is the only member of the genus Scaptochirus . This position is justified by differences in the structure and number of teeth. Older systematics classify it - like most other real moles - still in the genus Talpa .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web links
- Scaptochirus moschatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Insectivore Specialist Group, 1996. Accessed on 11/02/2007.