Chrysochloris asiatica
Cape golden mole adult, showing the digging claw, absence of external eye and a hint of the iridescence of the fur.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Afrosoricida
Family: Chrysochloridae
Genus: Chrysochloris
Species:
C. asiatica
Binomial name
Chrysochloris asiatica
Cape golden mole range
Synonyms
List
  • Chrysochloris asiatica bayoni De Beaux, 1921
  • Chrysochloris capensis Lacépède, 1799
  • Chrysochloris calviniae Shortridge, 1942
  • Chrysochloris concolor Shortridge & Carter, 1938
  • Chrysochloris damarensis Ogilby, 1838
  • Chrysochloris dixoni Broom, 1946
  • Chrysochloris elegans Broom, 1946
  • Chrysochloris minor Roberts, 1919
  • Chrysochloris namaquensis Broom, 1907
  • Chrysochloris rubra Lacépède, 1799
  • Chrysochloris shortridgei Broom, 1946
  • Chrysochloris taylori Broom, 1950
  • Chrysochloris tenuis Broom, 1907
  • Chrysochloris visserae Broom, 1950
  • Sorex auratus Vosmaer, 1787
  • Talpa asiatica Linnaeus, 1758
  • Talpa aurea Pallas, 1778
  • Talpa inaurata Pallas, 1777

The Cape golden mole (Chrysochloris asiatica) is a small, insectivorous mammal of the family Chrysochloridae, the golden moles. The species is a solitary subterranean insectivore, confined to the coastal regions of the southwestern and southern Cape in South Africa. When foraging for small, soil invertebrates and small lizards, these golden moles excavate superficial burrows using their conical nose shield and highly modified forefeet.[2] Females are smaller than males. Golden moles have very dense, soft, and silky coats. The coats are colored blackish to slaty-grey and brown to pale fawn. They have also been observed to venture onto sandy beaches, presumably to feed on amphipods and isopods occurring there.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Bronner, G. (2015). "Chrysochloris asiatica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T40600A21288387. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T40600A21288387.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Chrysochloris asiatica (Cape golden mole)". Animal Diversity Web.
  3. ↑ BENNETT, AND SPINKS (1995). "hermoregulation and metabolism in the Cape golden mole (Insectivora: Chrysochloris asiatica)". Journal of Zoology, London. 236 (3): 521–529. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02729.x.


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