Cryptochloris wintoni

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	AFROSORICIDA	CHRYSOCHLORIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cryptochloris wintoni

Species Authority:

(Broom, 1907)

Common Name/s:

English

–

De Winton's Golden Mole

Taxonomic Notes:

Some authors (e.g., Simonetta 1968) treated this taxon as only subspecifically distinct from C. zyli, but these taxa differ consistently in pelage colour and malleus morphology, indicating that they are not conspecific (Meester 1974).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered 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)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Known from only a single locality, and not recorded for more than 50 years. The existing evidence is that it is a valid species, and occurs in an area of high threat, so is listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct).

History:

2006	–	Critically Endangered (IUCN 2006)
2006	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Indeterminate (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Indeterminate (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to South Africa. Recorded only from the type locality at Port Nolloth, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.
Countries:	Possibly extinct: South Africa
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Extremely rare; known from only three specimens and not captured for over 50 years despite survey work.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Coastal dunes and adjacent sandy areas in Strandveld of the Namaqualand coastal plain (Nama-Karoo biome).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat alteration as a result of mining of coastal sands for alluvial diamonds in the Port Nolloth district may pose a threat to this species (Smithers 1986).

Major Threat(s):

Habitat alteration as a result of mining of coastal sands for alluvial diamonds in the Port Nolloth district may pose a threat to this species (Smithers 1986).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Not recorded from any protected areas. Fieldwork to survey for populations and assess the extent of anthropogenic threats is urgently needed. Research to clarify systematic status, and determine distribution limits and basic ecology is also a priority.

Conservation Actions:

Not recorded from any protected areas. Fieldwork to survey for populations and assess the extent of anthropogenic threats is urgently needed. Research to clarify systematic status, and determine distribution limits and basic ecology is also a priority.

Citation:	Bronner, G. 2008. Cryptochloris wintoni. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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