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Chlorotalpa duthieae

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA CHORDATA MAMMALIA AFROSORICIDA CHRYSOCHLORIDAE

Scientific Name: Chlorotalpa duthieae
Species Authority: (Broom, 1907)
Common Name/s:
English – Duthie's Golden Mole
Taxonomic Notes: Included in Amblysomus by Ellerman et al. (1953) and by Petter (1981). Meester (1974) and Meester et al. (1986) included leucorhina (here referred to Calcochloris) and arendsi (here treated as Carpitalpa) in this genus. Revised by Bronner (1995).

Some authors (Ellerman et al. 1953, Simonetta 1968) treated this taxon as only a subspecies of C. sclateri, but consistent differences in fur colour and chromosomal properties, and their preference for quite dissimilar ecotypes, indicate that they are distinct species (Bronner 1995).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable   B1ab(iii)   ver 3.1
Year Published: 2008
Assessor/s: Bronner, G.
Reviewer/s: Rathbun, G. (Afrotheria Red List Authority) & Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Justification:
The species is known from only six localities, and the maximum range area is less than 5,000 km² - likely much less given specialized habitat requirements. Although it occurs in several protected areas, populations outside these areas may be impacted by coastal housing and tourism developments.
History:
2006 – Vulnerable (IUCN 2006)
1996 – Vulnerable
1994 – Rare (Groombridge 1994)
1990 – Rare (IUCN 1990)
1988 – Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: This species is endemic to South Africa. It occurs in a narrow coastal band between Kynsna (Western Cape) northwards to Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape) in South Africa.
Countries:
Native:
South Africa
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population: Locally common in suitable habitats, but no quantitative data.
Population Trend: Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: Alluvial sands and sandy loams in Afromontane and Coastal Forest of the Fynbos and Moist Savanna biomes. Coexists with Amblysomus corriae in parts of their range, but trapping data suggest that A. c. corriae prefers fynbos and forest fringes, and C. duthieae deeper forest. Thrives in cultivated areas and gardens.
Systems: Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): Major threats include extensive (and intensive) development of coastal tourism resorts that could degrade habitats and lead to population fragmentation. Localized threats include predation by domestic pets in vicinity of human habitations, and persecution by gardeners.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: Protected in the Tsitsikamma National Park, Wilderness National Park, Keurboomsriver Nature Reserve, as well as numerous forest reserves managed by either the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, or local authorities. It also thrives in cultivated areas and gardens (particularly in the Walmer district of Port Elizabeth), suggesting that it is not at risk from human activities. Research needed to accurately determine distribution limits, and to quantify possible major threats.

Bibliography [top]

Afrotheria Specialist Group. 2004. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/afrotheria/ASG.html.

Baillie, J. and Groombridge, B. (comps and eds). 1996. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Bronner, G. N. 1995. Systematic revision of the golden mole genera Amblysomus, Chlorotalpa and Calcochloris (Insectivora: Chrysochloromorpha; Chrysochloridae). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Natal.

Bronner, G. N. and Jenkins, P. D. 2005. Order Afrosoricida. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 70-81. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Ellerman, J. R., Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. and Hayman, R. W. 1953. Southern African mammals 1758 to 1951: a reclassification. British Museum (Natural History), London, UK.

Groombridge, B. (ed.). 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN. 1990. 1990 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1988. 1988 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Meester, J. 1974. Family Chrysochloridae. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA.

Meester, J. A. J., Rautenbach, I. L., Dippenaar, N. J. and Baker, C. M. 1986. Classification of southern African mammals. Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa.

Nicoll, M. E. and Rathbun, G. B. 1990. African Insectivora and elephant-shrews: An action plan for their conservation. IUCN/SSC Insectivore, Tree-Shrew and Elephant-Shrew Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA and London, UK.

Petter, F. 1981. Remarques sur la systématique des Chrysochloridés. Mammalia 45: 49–53.

Simonetta A. M. 1968. A new golden mole from Somalia with an appendix on the taxonomy of the family Chrysochloridae (Mammalia, Insectivora). Monitore zoologici Italiano, Supplement 2: 27–55.

Smithers, R. H. N. 1986. South African Red Data Book - Terrestrial Mammals. South African National Scientific Programmes Report 125: 1–216.
Citation: Bronner, G. 2008. Chlorotalpa duthieae. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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