White tailed mole
| White tailed mole | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Parascaptor | ||||||||||||
| Gill , 1875 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Parascaptor leucura | ||||||||||||
| ( Blyth , 1850) |
The white tailed mole ( Parascaptor leucura ) is a species of mammal from the mole family (Talpidae) living in Asia .
features
White-tailed moles have the typical body structure of the actual mole . Their bodies are cylindrical, their muzzle pointed and their forelegs transformed into digging tools. They reach a head body length of 11 to 15 centimeters, plus a 1 to 1.5 centimeter long tail. The name-giving feature is the white-colored tail in the otherwise brownish-colored fur. These animals differ from other mole genera in that there are only three premolars per jaw half .
Distribution and way of life
White-tailed moles live in northeastern India ( Assam ) and the adjacent parts of Myanmar and China ( Yunnan Province ). They occur in areas up to 3000 meters above sea level and seem to prefer habitats made up of grasses and bushes.
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 should also consist of earthworms, insects and other small animals.
According to the IUCN, the species is not an endangered species.
Systematics
The white-tailed mole is the only member of the Parascaptor genus . 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 . Molecular genetic studies suggest that the white tailed mole includes several cryptic species .
literature
- Ernest P. Walker (greeting), Ronald M. Nowak (arr.): 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 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kai He, Akio Shinohara, Kristofer M. Helgen, Mark S. Springer, Xue-Long Jiang and Kevin L. Campbell: Talpid Mole Phylogeny Unites Shrew Moles and Illuminates Overlooked Cryptic Species Diversity. Molecular Biology and Evolution 34 (1), 2016, pp. 78-87
Web links
- Parascaptor leucura in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Insectivore Specialist Group, 1996. Accessed on 11/02/2007.