Tachyoryctes macrocephalus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	SPALACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Tachyoryctes macrocephalus

Species Authority:

(Rüppell, 1842)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Giant Mole Rat

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Corti, M. & Lavrenchenko, L.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Cox, N. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its extent of occurrence is probably less than 5,000 km², all individuals are in fewer than five locations, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is restricted to the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. It has been recorded from 3,000 to 4,150 m asl.
Countries:	Native: Ethiopia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is quite common within its restricted range.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is an inhabitant of alpine grassland habitats.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is threatened by overgrazing of its habitat by domestic livestock, both within and outside of the Bale Mountains National Park.

Major Threat(s):

This species is threatened by overgrazing of its habitat by domestic livestock, both within and outside of the Bale Mountains National Park.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The majority of the species' range is within the Bale Mountains National Park. There is a general need to maintain suitable grassland habitat for this species.

Conservation Actions:

The majority of the species' range is within the Bale Mountains National Park. There is a general need to maintain suitable grassland habitat for this species.

Bibliography [top]

	Musser, G. G. and Carleton, M. D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. In: D. E. Wilson and D. A. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World: a geographic and taxonomic reference, pp. 894-1531. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA. Sillero-Zubiri, C., Tattersall, F.H., and Macdonald, D.W. 1995. Habitat selection and daily activity of giant molerats (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus): significance to the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) in the Afroalpine ecosystem. Biological Conservation 72: 77-84. Yalden, D. W. 1985. Tachyoryctes macrocephalus. Mammalian Species 237: 1-3. Yalden, D. W. and Largen, M. J. 1992. The endemic mammals of Ethiopia. Mammal Review 22: 115-150. Yalden, D. W., Largen, M. J. and Kock, D. 1976. Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia. 2. Insectivora and Rodentia. Monitore zoologico italiano/Italian Journal of Zoology, N.S. Supplemento 8(1): 1-118. Yalden, D. W., Largen, M. J., Kock, D. and Hillman, J. C. 1996. Catalogue of the Mammals of Ethiopia and Eritrea 7. Revised Checklist, zoogeography and conservation. Tropical Zoology 9(1): 73-164.

Musser, G. G. and Carleton, M. D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. In: D. E. Wilson and D. A. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World: a geographic and taxonomic reference, pp. 894-1531. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA.

Sillero-Zubiri, C., Tattersall, F.H., and Macdonald, D.W. 1995. Habitat selection and daily activity of giant molerats (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus): significance to the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) in the Afroalpine ecosystem. Biological Conservation 72: 77-84.

Yalden, D. W. 1985. Tachyoryctes macrocephalus. Mammalian Species 237: 1-3.

Yalden, D. W. and Largen, M. J. 1992. The endemic mammals of Ethiopia. Mammal Review 22: 115-150.

Yalden, D. W., Largen, M. J. and Kock, D. 1976. Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia. 2. Insectivora and Rodentia. Monitore zoologico italiano/Italian Journal of Zoology, N.S. Supplemento 8(1): 1-118.

Yalden, D. W., Largen, M. J., Kock, D. and Hillman, J. C. 1996. Catalogue of the Mammals of Ethiopia and Eritrea 7. Revised Checklist, zoogeography and conservation. Tropical Zoology 9(1): 73-164.

Citation:	Corti, M. & Lavrenchenko, L. 2008. Tachyoryctes macrocephalus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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