Bathyergus suillus (Schreber, 1782)
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https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6584692 |
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6584515 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038F4B5A-FFA6-FFD1-A829-FCCDB7B0CAA7 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Bathyergus suillus |
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3. View Plate 22: Bathyergidae
Cape Dune Mole-rat
Bathyergus suillus View in CoL
French: Bathyergue des dunes / German: Kap-Strandgraber / Spanish: Rata topo de dunas de El Cabo
Other common names: Cape Dune Blesmol, Cape Dune Mole Rat, Large Cape Dune Mole-rat
Taxonomy. Mus suillus Schreber, 1782 ,
Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. Endemic to S South Africa, Western Cape Province from Knysna to Lamberts Bay. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 267-9-353-7 mm (males) and 279-9-329-9 mm (females); tail 30-7-41-9 mm (males) and 29-3-38-3 mm (females); weight 0-57.1-3 kg (males) and 0-58.0-96 kg (females). Some male Cape Dune Mole-rats reach 2 kg. Largest species of mole-rat characterized by thick cinnamon-brown dorsal pelage, with hairs darker at bases and brown at tips; ventral surface is grayish; and whitish hairs are near eyes and nose. Cape Dune Mole-rats have cylinder-shaped bodies, with short limbs, pinkish feet, and long claws on forefeet. Tail is short and contains bristle-like hairs, similar to those seen on feet, with facial bristles being considerably larger. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 56, FN = 102.
Habitat. Sandy soils in mesic savannas and grasslands.
Food and Feeding. The Cape Dune Mole-rat is herbivorous, and its diet contains c.80% grass, geophytes, and aboveand below-ground plants; it does not drink standing water.
Breeding. Breeding of the Cape Dune Mole-rat occurs during rainy season in July—October; courtship involves foot drumming. Gestation is 50-60 days, litter size averages 3-3 young (range 1-6), and genetic evidence suggests multiple paternity. Cape Dune Mole-rats are territorial and aggressive toward each other.
Activity patterns. Cape Dune Mole-rats dig with large claws on their forefeet.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Breeding patterns of Cape Dune Mole-rats suggest aboveground movements; burrows are 50-420 m; home range averages 0-27 ha (range 0-14-0-35 ha). They are solitary and territorial.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Bennett & Faulkes (2000), Bennett & Jarvis (1995), Bennett et al. (2009), Bray, Bloomer et al. (2012), Bray, van Rensburg & Bennett (2013), Davies & Jarvis (1986), Hart et al. (2006), Maree, Faulkes & Griffin (2008b), Nevo et al. (1986), Skinner & Chimimba (2005), Thomas et al. (2009).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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Bathyergus suillus
| Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier 2016 |
Mus suillus
| Schreber 1782 |