Anatolian blind mole-rat
| Anatolian blind mole-rat | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Spalacidae |
| Genus: | Nannospalax |
| Species: | N. xanthodon
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| Binomial name | |
| Nannospalax xanthodon (Nordmann, 1840)
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| Synonyms | |
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Nannospalax nehringi (Satunin, 1898) | |
The Anatolian blind mole-rat or Nehring's blind mole-rat (Nannospalax xanthodon) is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae.
Taxonomy and evolution
[edit]Nannospalax xanthodon was first described by Alexander von Nordmann in 1840, as Spalax typhlus xanthodon. A junior synonym, nehringi, has often been used for this species, and is sometimes used for a subspecies.[2]
The taxonomy of the genus Nannospalax is uncertain due to low morphological variation and high chromosomal variation, making it historically difficult to identify separate species within the genus.[3][4] There are three genetically distinct subpopulations within Nannospalax xanthodon, which may represent unidentified species due to the high genetic variation between them.[5][6] For this reason, N. xanthodon is sometimes referred to as a "superspecies".[4] As of 2016, 28 chromosomal "races" are known within N. xanthodon, which rarely hybridize.[7]
Description
[edit]The Anatolian blind mole-rate is a medium sized mole between 143 millimetres (5.6 in) and 248 millimetres (9.8 in) long. It weights between 130 grams (4.6 oz) to 522 grams (18.4 oz). It is sexually dimorphic, with the males larger than the females.[8]
Habitat and ecology
[edit]It is found in Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Iran and Turkey. It is considered a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List due to its wide range. They are common in dry steppe within their range, and can be found in fields and mountains at an altitude of up to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).[1]
It feeds on plants that it finds while digging, such as bulbs, roots, and tubers. It stores food within its burrows, with caches up to 10 kilograms (22 lb). Its primary predators are birds, including owls and the eastern imperial eagle.[8]
They breed once per year, with a 26 day gestational period. Females give birth to 1-6 babies of about 9 grams (0.32 oz).[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Arslan, A.; Gazzard, A.; Matur, F.; Sozen, M. (2023). "Nannospalax xanthodon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T14327A22276510. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T14327A22276510.en. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Nannospalax xanthodon - Plazi TreatmentBank". treatment.plazi.org. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
- ^ Arslan, Atilla; Zima, Jan (2015-01-09). "Heterochromatin distribution and localization of nucleolar organizing regions in the 2n = 52 cytotypes of Nannospalax xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi from Turkey". Zoological Studies. 54 (1): 6. doi:10.1186/s40555-014-0088-1. ISSN 1810-522X. PMC 6661299. PMID 31966093.
- ^ a b Németh, Attila; Mizsei, Edvárd; Laczkó, Levente; Czabán, Dávid; Hegyeli, Zsolt; Lengyel, Szabolcs; Csorba, Gábor; Sramkó, Gábor (2024-01-01). "Evolutionary history and systematics of European blind mole rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae: Nannospalax): Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation in a puzzling group". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 190: 107958. Bibcode:2024MolPE.19007958N. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107958. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 37914032.
- ^ Arslan, Emine; Elif, Gülbahçe; Hilal, Arıkoğlu; Atilla, Arslan; Elena V., Bužan; Kryštufek, Boris (2010-01-01). "Mitochondrial divergence between three cytotypes of the Anatolian Mole Rat, Nannospalax xanthodon (Nordmann, 1840): (Mammalia: Rodentia)". Zoology in the Middle East. 50 (1): 27–34. doi:10.1080/09397140.2010.10638408. ISSN 0939-7140.
- ^ Kankılıç, Teoman; Kankılıç, Tolga; Sözen, Mustafa; Çolak, Ercüment (2013). "Genetic Diversity and Geographic Variation of Chromosomal races of Nannospalax xanthodon (Nordmann, 1840) and Nannospalax ehrenbergi (Nehring, 1898) from Turkey, Revealed by RAPD Analysis" (PDF). Acta Zoologica Bulgarica. 65 (1): 45–58.
- ^ Arslan, Atilla; Kryštufek, Boris; Matur, Ferhat; Zima, Jan (1 December 2016). "Review of chromosome races in blind mole rats (Spalax and Nannospalax)". Folia Zoologica. 65 (4): 249–301. doi:10.25225/fozo.v65.i4.a1.2016. ISSN 0139-7893. Archived from the original on 2024-04-19.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Don E.; Mittermeier, Russell A.; Thomas E. Lacher, Jr (2017-11-30). "Spalacidae". Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II: 108–142. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6609100 – via TreatmentBank.
- Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 922. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.