Eospalax rufescens (Allen, 1909)

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 : 133

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6609100

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6608850

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03AE87DD-FF98-BD14-FAE0-FDE8F6C9F7BA

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Eospalax rufescens
status

 

8. View Plate 5: Spalacidae

Qinling Zokor

Eospalax rufescens View in CoL

French: Zokor roux / German: Qin-Ling-Blindmull / Spanish: Zocor de Qinling

Taxonomy. Myotalpa rufescens J. A. Allen, 1909 View in CoL ,

Taipai Shan , southern Shensi, China.

G. M. Allen in 1940 reluctantly treated E. rufescens as synonymous with E. fontanierii cansus based on limited and incomplete material. Fospalax rufescens has been treated as conspecific with E. fontanieru, E. cansus , or E. bailey: (under the older name rufescens ), but it had rarely been treated as a distinct species in its own right until recently. Various studies support distinctiveness of E. rufescens among species of Fospalax based on mtDNA, cranial morphology, molar shape, and hair morphology. Molecular data weakly suggest a close relationship to E. smithii or E. baileyr, but a sister relationship with E. cansus has also been suggested. Additional research is needed to assessits position within the genus Fospalax. Monotypic.

Distribution. Qin Mts in S Gansu, S Shaanxi, and N Sichuan (C China). View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.186 mm, tail ¢.33 mm. No specific data available for body weight. The Qinling Zokoris dark gray to rufescent brown. Tail is brownish white and well-furred. Hindfeet are also well-furred. Nasals are long and slightly trapezoidal in shape, and incisive foramina extend well into maxilla. M? lacks a second re-entrant fold.

Habitat. Grassy habitat and cropland at elevations above 2000 m in Qin Mountains.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Qinling Zokor prefers to construct burrows in soft soils with few rocks on sunny slopes with sparse shrubs.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Classified as data deficient on the 2016 China Red List, where it is treated as a distinct species. The Qinling Zokor seems to benefit from an intermediate level of human disturbance such as cleared land near highways. It is an agricultural pest.

Bibliography. Allen, G.M. (1940), Allen, J.A. (1909), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Fan Naichang & Shi Yinzhu (1982), He Ya et al. (2012), Jiang Zhigang et al. (2016), Li Baoguo & Chen Fuguan (1989), Lu Qingbin et al. (2011), Musser & Carleton (2005), Norris et al. (2004), Smith & Johnston (2008a), Song (1986), Su Junhu et al. (2014), Wang Yingxiang (2003), Wu Panwen et al. (2007), Zhou Caiguan & Zhou Kaiya (2008).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

SubOrder

Myomorpha

SuperFamily

Muroidea

Family

Spalacidae

Genus

Eospalax

Loc

Eospalax rufescens

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr 2017
2017
Loc

Myotalpa rufescens

J. A. Allen 1909
1909
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