Cape golden mole

Chrysochloris asiatica
Cape golden mole adult
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 bayoniDe Beaux, 1921 Chrysochloris capensisLacépède, 1799 Chrysochloris calviniaeShortridge, 1942 Chrysochloris concolorShortridge & Carter, 1938 Chrysochloris damarensisOgilby, 1838 Chrysochloris dixoniBroom, 1946 Chrysochloris elegansBroom, 1946 Chrysochloris minorRoberts, 1919 Chrysochloris namaquensisBroom, 1907 Chrysochloris rubraLacépède, 1799 Chrysochloris shortridgeiBroom, 1946 Chrysochloris tayloriBroom, 1950 Chrysochloris tenuisBroom, 1907 Chrysochloris visseraeBroom, 1950 Sorex auratusVosmaer, 1787 Talpa asiaticaLinnaeus, 1758 Talpa aureaPallas, 1778 Talpa inaurataPallas, 1777

The Cape golden mole (Chrysochloris asiatica) is a small, insectivorous mammal of the family Chrysochloridae, the golden moles. The species is a solitary subterranean insectivore, confined to the coastal regions of the southwestern and southern Cape in South Africa. When foraging for small, soil invertebrates and small lizards, these golden moles excavate superficial burrows using their conical nose shield and highly modified forefeet. ^[2] 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 onto sandy beaches, presumably to feed on amphipods and isopods occurring there. ^[3]

References

1. Bronner, G. (2015). "Chrysochloris asiatica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T40600A21288387. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T40600A21288387.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
2. "Chrysochloris asiatica (Cape golden mole)". Animal Diversity Web .
3. 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 ^{[ permanent dead link ]}