Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Ordo: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Eutheria
Magnordo: Epitheria
Superordo: Afrotheria
Ordo: Afrosoricida
Subordo: Chrysochloridea
Familia: Chrysochloridae
Subfamilia: Amblysominae
Genus: Amblysomus
Species: Amblysomus marleyi
Name
Amblysomus marleyi Roberts, 1931
Type locality: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Zululand, Ubombo.
References
Roberts, A. 1931. "New forms of South African mammals." Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 14:221-236 (225).
Amblysomus marleyi in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Amblysomus marleyi Roberts, 1931 (Endangered)
Amblysomus marleyi Roberts, 1931 – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Marley's Golden Mole
Marley's golden mole (Amblysomus marleyi) is a species of burrowing mammal in the golden mole family, Chrysochloridae. It is found in South Africa and possibly Eswatini. It has been separated from Amblysomus hottentotus by Bronner (1995b, 1996, 2000).[1] Its natural habitat is indigenous forests and moist grassland, and also gardens. It is classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The main threats it faces are habitat degradation, either through overgrazing by cattle or the removal of vegetation for firewood, and urbanization.[2]
Characteristics
Marley's golden mole has a compact, streamlined body, a wedge-shaped head, pointed muzzle and sleek, moisture repellent fur. The upper parts are a dark reddish-brown and the underparts range from dull brown to orange-brown. It has muscular shoulders with short powerful forelimbs and strong digging claws. The third claw is enlarged and there is no fifth digit and only a vestigial first and fourth digit. The hind limbs retain all five toes which are webbed to allow for efficient backward shoveling of soil that has been loosened by the forelimbs.[3] It has no external ears or tail and the vestigial eyes are covered by hairy skin. The weight is 30 – 34 grams.[4]
Biology
When burrowing and foraging near the surface, this mole creates raised ridges of soil that are visible above ground. There is also a system of deeper tunnels with chambers which are used for resting and for the rearing of young. The diet is not known precisely but earthworms, insect larvae and other invertebrates are likely to predominate. Golden moles have a low metabolic rate and are able to enter into a state of torpor in response to cold temperatures. This enables them to survive in areas where temperatures can be low and food scarce.[5]
Range and habitat
This species is known from only two isolated localities on the eastern slopes of the Lebombo Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It may be more widespread than this as remains of the species have been identified in owl pellets 250 kilometres to the southwest of its known range. It is mainly found in indigenous forests and moist grassland but also sometimes in gardens. The main threats it faces are from habitat degradation.[2][6]
References
Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Bronner, G.; Mynhardt, S. (2015). "Amblysomus marleyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T62007A21284544. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T62007A21284544.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Piper, Ross. Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Press (2007).
Skinner, J.D. and Chimimba, C.T. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Cambridge University Press (2005.)
Afrotheria Specialist Group
"ARKive". Archived from the original on 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
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