Cape golden mole

Chrysochloris asiatica
	Cape golden mole adult, showing the digging claw, absence of external eye and a hint of the iridescence of the fur.
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Family:	Chrysochloridae
Genus:	Chrysochloris
Species:	C. asiatica
Binomial name
	Chrysochloris asiatica; Linnaeus, 1758
	Cape golden mole range
Synonyms
	List Chrysochloris asiatica bayoni De Beaux, 1921 ; Chrysochloris capensis Lacépède, 1799 ; Chrysochloris calviniae Shortridge, 1942 ; Chrysochloris concolor Shortridge & Carter, 1938 ; Chrysochloris damarensis Ogilby, 1838 ; Chrysochloris dixoni Broom, 1946 ; Chrysochloris elegans Broom, 1946 ; Chrysochloris minor Roberts, 1919 ; Chrysochloris namaquensis Broom, 1907 ; Chrysochloris rubra Lacépède, 1799 ; Chrysochloris shortridgei Broom, 1946 ; Chrysochloris taylori Broom, 1950 ; Chrysochloris tenuis Broom, 1907 ; Chrysochloris visserae Broom, 1950 ; Sorex auratus Vosmaer, 1787 ; Talpa asiatica Linnaeus, 1758 ; Talpa aurea Pallas, 1778 ; Talpa inaurata Pallas, 1777 ;

The Cape golden mole (Chrysochloris asiatica) is a small, insectivorous mammal of the family Chrysochloridae, the golden moles. It is native to certain south western regions of South Africa. The species is a solitary subterranean insectivore, confined to the coastal regions of the south-western and southern Cape. When foraging for soil invertebrates, these golden moles excavate superficial burrows using their conical nose shield and highly modified forefeet. Females are smaller than males. Golden moles have very dense, soft, and silky coats. The coats are colored blackish to slaty-grey and brown to pale fawn. They have also been observed to venture on to sandy beaches, presumably to feed on amphipods and isopods occurring there.[2]

References

Bronner, G. (2008). "Chrysochloris asiatica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)old-form url
BENNETT, AND SPINKS (1995). "hermoregulation and metabolism in the Cape golden mole (Insectivora: Chrysochloris asiatica)". Journal of Zoology, London. 236 (3): 521–529. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02729.x.

External links

Manyeleti Private Game Reserve - description of golden moles
Data related to Cape golden mole at Wikispecies

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[iucn-1] Bronner, G. (2008). "Chrysochloris asiatica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)old-form url

[2] BENNETT, AND SPINKS (1995). "hermoregulation and metabolism in the Cape golden mole (Insectivora: Chrysochloris asiatica)". Journal of Zoology, London. 236 (3): 521–529. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02729.x.