The blesmols, also known as mole-rats, or African mole-rats, are burrowing rodents of the family Bathyergidae. They represent a distinct evolution of a subterranean life among rodents much like the pocket gophers of North America, the tuco-tucos in South America, or the Spalacidae from Eurasia.
The Natal multimammate mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. The Natal multimammate rat is the natural host of the Lassa fever virus.
The fynbos golden mole is a species of mammal in the golden mole family, Chrysochloridae. It is endemic to South Africa.
The highveld golden mole is a species of mammal in the golden mole family, Chrysochloridae. It is found in South Africa and Eswatini. Its natural habitats are forests, moist savanna, temperate shrubland and grassland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas.
Duthie's golden mole is a species of mammal in the family Chrysochloridae. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, temperate grassland, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban area. The specific name duthieae was given in honour of Dr. Augusta Vera Duthie, a South African botanist.
Ansell's mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is endemic to Zambia. Its natural habitats are moist savanna and miombo forests. It is noted for its very long tunnels, up to 2.8 km (1.7 mi) for a single colony of only ten individuals. The colonies are made of an eusocial system. They include a main reproductive king and queen that are thought to be faithful to one another.
Mechow's mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and possibly Malawi. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. This mole-rat was first described by the German naturalist Wilhelm Peters in 1881. The specific epithet honours the Prussian explorer and naturalist Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow.
The Ochre mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is found in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, caves, and arable land.
The Ghana mole-rat or Togo mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Bathyergidae. It is endemic to Ghana.
The Ankole mole-rat or Ankole African mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae found in southwestern Uganda and northwestern Tanzania. Its natural habitats are moist savanna and arable land. Some taxonomic authorities consider it to be conspecific with the East African mole-rat.
Tachyoryctes is a genus of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It contains the following species:
The Mianzini mole-rat or Mianzini African mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, pastureland, and rural gardens. Some taxonomic authorities consider it to be conspecific with the East African mole-rat.
The Aberdare Mountains African mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. Some taxonomic authorities consider it to be conspecific with the East African mole-rat.
The Kenyan African mole-rat or Kenyan mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest.
The big-headed African mole rat, also known as the giant root-rat, Ethiopian African mole rat, or giant mole rat, is a rodent species in the family Spalacidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia's Bale Mountains. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, where it can reach densities of up to 2,600 individuals per square kilometre. It is threatened by habitat loss. Where the two species overlap, it is the main prey of the endangered Ethiopian wolf.
The Rwanda mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.
Rudd's mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is found in Kenya and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, arable land, pastureland, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest.
The Embi mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, moist savanna, arable land, pastureland, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest.
The northeast African mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae and is found in Ethiopia, Somalia, and northwest Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, dry savanna, high-altitude shrubland and grassland. It lives a solitary existence underground and produces a small litter of pups twice a year, in the two rainy seasons. Some taxonomic authorities lump this species, along with a number of others in the genus, in which case the English name East African mole-rat is used.
Storey's African mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.
