Myospalax armandii (Milne-Edwards, 1867)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Spalacidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 108-142 : 131-132

3.

Armand’s Zokor

Myospalax armandii

French: Zokor dArmand / German: Armand-Blindmull / Spanish: Zocor de Armand

Taxonomy. Siphneus armandii Milne-Edwards, 1867 ,

Mongolian plateau ( N Shanxi ).

Member of M. myospalax species group according to G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005 but treated as a member of the M. aspalax group in I. Ya. Pavlinov and A. A. Lissovsky in 2012. Myospalax armandii is the sister species of M. aspalax , and the two have often been historically united into the same species, M. aspalax . Morphological data and RAPD-PCR support the conclusion that M. armandii is distinct from but closely related to M. aspalax . They are united into the aspalax superspecies by Pavlinov and Lissovsky in 2012. Monotypic.

Distribution. E Inner Mongolia (= Nei Mongol), N Shanxi, N Hebei, W Liaoning, W Jilin, and S Heilongjiang (NE China), and SE Zabaykalsky Krai (Russia).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-233 mm, tail 48-69 mm; weight 225-422 g. Measurements are from A. T. Smith in 2008, which may include specimens of the Steppe Zokor ( M. aspalax ). Armand’s Zokor looks similar to the Steppe Zokor. It is grayish, with yellow or light brown tinge. Lips are white, and forehead and other parts of head and ears can have white spots. Venter is grayish white, and tail and feet have short white hairs. Diploid number is 2n = 62.

Habitat. Steppe, meadows, and farmland.

Food and Feeding. Armand’s Zokor feeds on underground roots, rhizomes, leaves, and buds.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Armand’s Zokor constructs burrows in rich, dark, soft soil.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List and the 2016 China Red List (under M. aspalax in both).

Bibliography. Allen (1940), Chelomina et al. (2011), Jiang Zhigang et al. (2016), Lawrence (1991), Musser & Carleton (2005), Ognev (1947), Pavlenko, Tsvirka et al. (2014), Pavlinov & Lissovsky (2012), Puzachenko, Pavlenko & Korablev (2009), Puzachenko, Pavlienko, Korablev & Tsvirka (2014), Shar & Lkhagvasuren (2008), Smith (2008b), Tarasov et al. (2011), Tsvirka et al. (2011).

Figures

1. Altai Zokor (Myospalax myospalax), 2. Steppe Zokor (Myospalax aspalax), 3. Armand’s Zokor (Mpyospalax armandii), 4. Manchurian Zokor (Myospalax psilurus), 5. Khingan Zokor (Myospalax epsilanus), 6. Fontanier’s Zokor (FEospalax fontaniern), 7. Gansu Zokor (Fospalax cansus), 8. Qinling Zokor (Fospalax rufescens), 9. Plateau Zokor (FEospalax bailey), 10. Rothschild’s Zokor (Eospalax rothschildi), 11. Smith’s Zokor (Eospalax smithu), 12. Chinese Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys sinensis), 13. Hoary Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys pruinosus), 14. Indomalayan Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys sumatrensis), 15. Lesser Bamboo Rat (Cannomys badius), 16. African Root Rat (Tachyoryctes splendens), 17. Giant Root Rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), 18. Oltenia Blind Mole-rat (Spalax istricus), 19. Mehely’s Blind Mole-rat (Spalax antiquus), 20. Bukovina Blind Mole-rat (Spalax graecus), 21. Podolsk Blind Mole-rat (Spalax zemni), 22. Sandy Blind Mole-rat (Spalax arenarius), 23. Greater Blind Mole-rat (Spalax microphthalmus), 24. Giant Blind Mole-rat (Spalax giganteus), 25. Kazakhstan Blind Mole-rat (Spalax uralensis), 26. Lesser Blind Mole-rat (Nannospalax leucodon), 27. Anatolian Blind Mole-rat (Nannospalax xanthodon), 28. Middle East Blind Mole-rat (Nannospalax ehrenbergi)

Distribution. E Inner Mongolia (= Nei Mongol), N Shanxi, N Hebei, W Liaoning, W Jilin, and S Heilongjiang (NE China), and SE Zabaykalsky Krai (Russia).