Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Cladus: Theriimorpha
Cladus: Theriiformes
Cladus: Trechnotheria
Cladus: Zatheria
Subclassis: Theria
Cladus: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Superordo: Afrotheria
Cladus: Afroinsectiphilia
Cladus: Afroinsectivora
Ordo: Afrosoricida
Subordo: Chrysochloridea
Familia: Chrysochloridae
Subfamilia: Chrysochlorinae
Genus: Cryptochloris
Species: Cryptochloris zyli
Name
Cryptochloris zyli Shortridge & Carter, 1938
Type locality: South Africa, Western Cape Prov., Compagnies Drift, 16 km inland from Lamberts Bay.
References
Shortridge, G. C., and T. D. Carter. 1938. "A new genus and new species and subspecies of mammals from Little Namaqualand and the north-west Cape Province; and a new subspecies of Gerbillus paeba from the eastern Cape Province." Annals of the South African Museum, 3(2):281-291 (284).
Cryptochloris zyli 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: Cryptochloris zyli Shortridge & Carter, 1938 (Endangered)
Cryptochloris zyli Shortridge & Carter, 1938 – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Van Zyl se gouemol
Ελληνικά: Χρυσοτυφλοπόντικας του Βαν Ζυλ
English: Van Zyl's Golden Mole
suomi: Zylinkultamyyrä
Van Zyl's golden mole (Cryptochloris zyli) is a golden mole endemic to the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is listed as an endangered species due to habitat loss. Golden moles are an ancient group of mammals who live mostly below ground. They have shiny coats of dense fur and a streamlined, formless appearance. They have no visible eyes or ears; in fact, they are blind – the small eyes are covered with hairy skin. The ears are small and are hidden in the animal's fur.[2]
Description
Van Zyl's golden mole is about 80–90 mm (3.1–3.5 in) long and weighs about 20–30 g (0.71–1.06 oz). The face has white markings.The dorsal fur is short and dense and is a dark lead-grey colour, the under-layer of fur being pale grey. The underparts are a uniform drab colour. The claw on the third digit on the forefoot is about 10 mm (0.4 in) long and 4 mm (0.2 in) wide at the base. Claws one and two are slightly shorter making a pointed digging tool.[2]
Ecology
It lives in the coastal dune belt and adjacent sandy areas. Usually two young are born, sometimes one. Van Zyl's golden mole eats various invertebrates, as well as legless lizards, which grow to a length of about 20 cm (8"). The young of golden moles are born in a grass-lined cavity in the ground. They usually dig their tunnels just below the ground.[2]
Status
Van Zyl's golden mole was initially known only from Compagnies Drift, 16 km (9.9 mi) inland from Lambert's Bay, northwestern Cape Province, South Africa. Another specimen was collected at Groenriviermond, approximately 150 km (93 mi) further north along the Namaqualand coast, in 2003. Van Zyl's golden mole is threatened by continued loss of habitat. For example, mining of coastal dunes for alluvial diamonds could lead to habitat degradation. Habitat alteration associated with tourism developments along the west coast could also pose a problem for this species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature now rates this species as "endangered".[1]
References
Bronner, G. (2015). "Cryptochloris zyli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T5749A21286235. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T5749A21286235.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Jonathan Kingdon; David Happold; Thomas Butynski; Michael Hoffmann; Meredith Happold; Jan Kalina (2013). Mammals of Africa. A&C Black. pp. 250–252. ISBN 978-1-4081-8996-2.
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. 79. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
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