Georychus capensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	BATHYERGIDAE

Scientific Name:

Georychus capensis

Species Authority:

(Pallas, 1778)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Cape Mole Rat

Taxonomic Notes:

Populations from KwaZulu-Natal may prove to be separate species (Nevo et al. 1987, Honeycutt et al. 1987).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Maree, S. & Faulkes, C.

Reviewer/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern because, it is an adaptable and common species, relatively widely distributed, and there are no major threats to the species.

History:

2004	–	Least Concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in mesic regions of South Africa (above 500 mm rainfall). It has a disjunct distribution in southwestern Cape north to Citrusdal and Nieuwoutdwal, and eastwards to Port Elizabeth and the Transkei. There are isolated populations in KwaZulu-Natal close to the border with Lesotho (the species possibly once ranged along the coast; Taylor 1998), and in Mpumalanga (specifically Belfast, Wakkerstroom and Ermelo).
Countries:	Native: South Africa
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This is an uncommon, localized species. Population densities may exceed 30 animals per sq km in the area of Cape Town.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This is a subterranean species that is found in most sandy soils, coastal sand dunes and sandy alluvium both along river systems and in the montane regions of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. Specimens from Wakkerstroom have been collected in red clay and black turf soils amidst montane grassland on the edge of a small vlei (a marshy area) (Bronner 1990). It has also been recorded from anthropogenically disturbed habitats, such as golf courses (for example, at the Nottingham road locality in the Kamburg region), gardens, and even at the University of Cape Town campus. The areas where the species occurs generally receive in excess of 500 mm per annum. It is a largely solitary species that may have two litters of four to ten young per year. The species has a generation length of four years.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This is a subterranean species that is found in most sandy soils, coastal sand dunes and sandy alluvium both along river systems and in the montane regions of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. Specimens from Wakkerstroom have been collected in red clay and black turf soils amidst montane grassland on the edge of a small vlei (a marshy area) (Bronner 1990). It has also been recorded from anthropogenically disturbed habitats, such as golf courses (for example, at the Nottingham road locality in the Kamburg region), gardens, and even at the University of Cape Town campus. The areas where the species occurs generally receive in excess of 500 mm per annum. It is a largely solitary species that may have two litters of four to ten young per year. The species has a generation length of four years.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to the species, and it is often an agricultural and horticultural pest.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to the species, and it is often an agricultural and horticultural pest.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species occurs in several protected areas, including Giant's Castle Nature Reserve in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. Further studies into the taxonomic status of the KwaZulu-Natal populations are needed.

Conservation Actions:

This species occurs in several protected areas, including Giant's Castle Nature Reserve in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. Further studies into the taxonomic status of the KwaZulu-Natal populations are needed.

Citation:	Maree, S. & Faulkes, C. 2008. Georychus capensis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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