Amblysomus corriae
Taxonomy [top]
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | MAMMALIA | AFROSORICIDA | CHRYSOCHLORIDAE |
| Scientific Name: | Amblysomus corriae | |||
| Species Authority: | Thomas, 1905 | |||
Common Name/s:
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| Taxonomic Notes: | Includes populations previously treated as a subspecies of A. iris (A. i. corriae), as well as a subspecies of A. hottentotus (A. h. devilliersi), see Meester et al. (1986: 23). Bronner (1996) showed that iris represents only a subspecies of A. hottentotus, and elevated corriae to species rank to include devilliersi. Includes two subspecies: A. c. corriae and A. c. devilliersi (Bronner 1995). | |||
Assessment Information [top]
| Red List Category & Criteria: | Near Threatened ver 3.1 | |||
| Year Published: | 2008 | |||
| Assessor/s: | Bronner, G. | |||
| Reviewer/s: | Rathbun, G. (Afrotheria Red List Authority) & Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) | |||
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Justification: This species is close to qualifying for Vulnerable (under criterion B), as it is known from a restricted area (only 15 localities, less than 25,000 km²), but probably more widespread than current records indicate. Widespread habitat alteration/degradation/loss has occurred historically throughout the range of this species, as a result of agriculture, forestry and urbanization, but it appears to adapt well to transformed habitats providing that the intensity of disturbance is not too intense. Along the eastern coast of the Western Cape, however, tourism developments and increasingly intensive agricultural practices could lead to fragmentation and the isolation of some populations. The species is listed as Near Threatened. |
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| History: |
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Geographic Range [top]
| Range Description: | This species is endemic to South Africa. It is found from western Cape Province, from Hawequas Forest (near Worcester) in the north, westwards through Paarl and Stellenbosch to the coastal plain and slopes of the Langeberg mountains in the Riversdale district, then northeastwards along the coastal plain and slopes of the Outeniqua, Kouga and Baviaanskloof mountain ranges from the vicinity of George to Humansdorp (Eastern Cape). Does not cross the Cape Flats, where the Cape Golden Mole (Chrysochloris asiatica) is common. |
| Countries: |
Native:
South Africa
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| Range Map: | Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population [top]
| Population: | Common throughout its range, but restricted to specific soils; less common in rocky mountainous habitats. |
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
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Habitat and Ecology [top]
| Habitat and Ecology: | Sandy soils and soft loams in lowland and montane Fynbos and forests, possibly with a marginal intrusion into savanna (in the southern parts of the Eastern Cape). Thrives in gardens, cultivated lands, golf courses and livestock paddocks. Present also in exotic plantations, but apparently at lower densities. |
| Systems: | Terrestrial |
Threats [top]
| Major Threat(s): | The major threat is habitat alteration/degradation/loss in areas along the eastern coast of Western Cape owing to tourism developments and increasingly intensive agricultural practices, which could lead to fragmentation and isolation of some populations. More localized threats include: poisoning and persecution by gardeners, greenkeepers, nurserymen and specialized (small-scale) agricultural concerns; and predation by domestic dogs and cats. |
Conservation Actions [top]
| Conservation Actions: | No species-specific conservation actions are necessary. A. c. corriae occurs in protected areas, including Wilderness National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Diepwalle Forest Reserve, Keurboomsrivier Nature Reserve, Kluitjieskraal Nature Reserve, Ruitersbos State Forest, Saasveld State Forest and the Bergplaas Nature Reserve. A. c. devilliersi recorded from the Jonkershoek Conservation Area (Stellenbosch), Hawequas State Forest (Worcester) and the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area (Swellendam), Grootvadersbosch Forest Reserve (Heidelberg) and Garcia State Forest (Riversdale). It probably occurs more widely in other conservation areas proclaimed for the preservation of Fynbos. |
Bibliography [top]
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Afrotheria Specialist Group. 2004. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/afrotheria/ASG.html. 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. 1996. Geographic patterns of morphometric variation in the Hottentot golden mole, Amblysomus hottentotus (Insectivora: Chrysochloridae): a multivariate analysis. 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. 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. |
| Citation: | Bronner, G. 2008. Amblysomus corriae. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012. |
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