Chlorotalpa duthieae (Broom, 1907)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Chrysochloridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 180-203 : 200

13.

Duthie’s Golden Mole

Chlorotalpa duthieae

French: Taupe-dorée de Duthie / German: Duthie-Goldmull / Spanish: Topo dorado de Duthie

Taxonomy. Chrysochloris duthieae Broom, 1907 ,

Knysna, Western Cape Province, South Africa .

Although C. duthieae is considered subspe- cifically distinct from C. sclateri by some authors, it is now considered a distinct species due to consistent differences in pelage color, chromosomal properties, malleus morphology, and habitat selection. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to S South Africa, occurring along coast between George and Port Elizabeth, Western and Eastern Cape provinces, respectively; found in two subpopulations.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-125 mm (males) and 96-130 mm (females), hindfoot 9-14 mm (males) and 9-13 mm (females); weight 26-41 g (males) and 20-27 g (females). Cranial measurements show sexual dimorphism, with males larger than females. Duthie’s Golden Mole is small and slender. Dorsum is reddish black or brownish black, with green sheen; throat and chest are grayish; and muzzle is paler. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 30 and FN = 60.

Habitat. Afro-montane and coastal forests, suburban gardens, and pasturelands, using alluvial sands and sandy loams.

Food and Feeding. Limited observations indicate that Duthie’s Golden Mole forages in subsurface tunnels and leaflitter; it mostly eats earthworms.

Breeding. One pregnant female and two male Duthie’s Golden Moles with enlarged testes were recorded in November. Litters have two young.

Activity patterns. Duthie’s Golden Moles are mostly nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Duthie’s Golden Mole moves through shallow subsurface tunnels that radiate from nests under tree roots. Adults are solitary.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Duthie’s Golden Mole has a small extent of occurrence (known from only nine locations) and is facing apparent decline in extent of suitable habitat. It is increasingly threatened by habitat loss due to development of coastal tourism resorts and urban sprawl.

Bibliography. Bronner (1995b, 2013b), Bronner & Bennett (2016b).

Figures

0. Yellow Golden Mole (Calcochloris obtusirostris), 1. Hottentot Golden Mole (Amblysomus hottentotus), 2. Robust Golden Mole (Amblysomus robustus), 3. Highveld Golden Mole (Amblysomus septentrionalis), 4. Marley’s Golden Mole (Amblysomus marleyi), 5. Fynbos Golden Mole (Amblysomus corriae), 7. Congo Golden Mole (Huetia leucorhina), 8. Somali Golden Mole (Huetia tytonis), 9. Gunning’s Golden Mole (Neamblysomus gunningi), 10. Juliana’s Golden Mole (Neamblysomus julianae), 11. Arend’s Golden Mole (Carpitalpa arendsi), 12. Sclater’s Golden Mole (Chlorotalpa sclateri), 13. Duthie’s Golden Mole (Chlorotalpa duthieae), 14. Stuhlmann’s Golden Mole (Chrysochloris stuhlmanni), 15. Cape Golden Mole (Chrysochloris asiatica), 16. Visagie’s Golden Mole (Chrysochloris visagier), 17. Rough-haired Golden Mole (Chrysospalax villosa), 18. Giant Golden Mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani), 19. De Winton’s Golden Mole (Cryptochloris wintoni), 20. Van Zyl's Golden Mole (Cryptochloris zyli), 21. Grant's Golden Mole (Eremitalpa grant)

Distribution. Endemic to S South Africa, occurring along coast between George and Port Elizabeth, Western and Eastern Cape provinces, respectively; found in two subpopulations.