Neamblysomus julianae (Bronberg Ridge subpopulation)
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
MAMMALIA |
AFROSORICIDA |
CHRYSOCHLORIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Neamblysomus julianae (Bronberg Ridge subpopulation) |
| Species Authority: |
(Meester, 1972) |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Juliana's Golden Mole |
|
| Taxonomic Notes: |
Assigned to the genus Neamblysomus by Bronner (1995). Topotypical population. |
Assessment Information
[top]
| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Critically Endangered
B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv)
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:
Treated as a distinct subpopulation, as there are no records suggesting gene flow with other populations, and it does not occur in any national or provincial protected areas. Much of the habitat of this species has been dramatically altered and degraded as a result of urbanization and high-density housing developments along the Bronberg Ridge in Tshwane (Pretoria). Quartzite mining operations threaten to destroy the sole remaining dispersal corridor between eastern and western subpopulations, which could lead to genetic erosion and a reduced population viability.
|
| History: |
| 2006 |
– |
Critically Endangered
(IUCN 2006)
|
| 2006 |
– |
Critically Endangered
|
|
Geographic Range
[top]
| Range Description: |
This topotypical population is known from only The Willows (type locality), Shere and Tierpoort on the northern slopes of the Bronberg Ridge in Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng. |
| Countries: |
|
| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
[top]
| Population: |
Locally common in remaining patches of suitable habitat, but no quantitative data on population size or trends.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
[top]
| Habitat and Ecology: |
Confined to sandy soils, often pockets of weathered sandstone associated with rocky ridges with Rocky Highveld Grassland and Mixed Bushveld vegetation. Also occurs in gardens. Habitat fragmented and altered by urbanization and mining activities.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
Inferred major threat - habitat alteration and fragmentation. In the former Transvaal Province, this species was given the highest regional priority score for mammals (Freitag and van Jaarsveld 1997). Much of the habitat of this species has been dramatically altered and degraded as a result of urbanization and high-density housing developments along the Bronberg Ridge in Tshwane (Pretoria). Quartzite mining operations threaten to destroy the sole remaining dispersal corridor between eastern and western subpopulations, which could lead to genetic erosion and a reduced population viability. Inferred minor threats - predation by domestic pets, persecution by gardeners.
|
Conservation Actions
[top]
| Conservation Actions: |
Legislation and political will are urgently needed to conserve the Tshwane (Pretoria) population. GDACEL (Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Land Affairs) commissioned a Strategic Environmental Assessment to assist in formulating a policy to regulate development and activities in this area (See Pfab 2002). Despite these actions, and a separate EIA tabled by EcoAssessments C.C. on behalf of local landowners, the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs has re-issued a mining permit to allow mining to continue into the forseeable future. Sustained and concerted efforts, including legal actions, are needed to support GDACEL in implementing their policy and to convince relevant provincial and national regulatory bodies of the dire threat faced by this population. Ongoing public education efforts should be sustained and expanded. Current research on the genetic and systematics status of the Pretoria population should be expanded to incorporate conservation genetics data, and a thorough risk assessment should be done.
|
Bibliography
[top]
|
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.
Freitag S. and van Jaarsveld, A. S. 1997. Relative occupancy, endemism, taxonomic distinctiveness and vulnerability: prioritising regional conservation actions. Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 211–232.
Pfab, M. 2002. The quartzite ridges of Gauteng. Veld & Flora: 56–59.
|
