| Oltenia blind mole-rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Spalacidae |
| Genus: | Spalax |
| Species: | S. istricus |
| Binomial name | |
| Spalax istricus Méhely, 1909 | |
| Synonyms | |
Spalax graecus istricus | |
The Oltenia blind mole-rat (Spalax istricus) is a critically endangered, possibly extinct species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is endemic to Romania. [2]
Previously described in 1909 by Lajos Méhelÿ as a subspecies of the Bukovina blind mole-rat (S. graecus), a 2013 morphological and phylogenetic analysis found it to be a distinct, well-defined species. Its closest taxonomic relations remain unclear due to a lack of genetic material from available specimens. [3] The American Society of Mammalogists and IUCN Red List follow the results of this study. [1] [2]
This species is restricted to southern Romania, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia. It inhabits hilly and flat terrain of the Wallachian Plain, covered by steppe or forest-steppe vegetation. It likely inhabits similar habitats to Mehely's blind mole-rat (S. antiquus). [1]
This species is classified as critically endangered or possibly extinct on the IUCN Red List. Historically, blind mole-rats were persecuted as agricultural pests. However, the primary threat leading to this species' decline is thought to be agricultural intensification and conversion of habitat to ploughed fields. [1]
No individuals have been sighted at previous localities it was known from despite repeated survey efforts, and there have been no sightings of this species since 1983. If still extant, it likely has a small extent of occurrence, and if it still occurs in the localities it was previously known from, its population is likely highly fragmented. [1]
The Spalacidae, or spalacids, are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. They are native to eastern Asia, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and southeastern Europe. It includes the blind mole-rats, bamboo rats, mole-rats, and zokors. This family represents the oldest split in the muroid superfamily, and comprises animals adapted to a subterranean way of life. These rodents were thought to have evolved adaptations to living underground independently until recent genetic studies demonstrated they form a monophyletic group. Members of the Spalacidae are often placed in the family Muridae along with all other members of the Muroidea.
Spalax is a genus of rodent in the family Spalacidae, subfamily Spalacinae. It is one of two extant genera in the subfamily Spalacinae, alongside Nannospalax.
The blind mole-rats, also known as the fossorial or subterranean mole rats, are a subfamily (Spalacinae) of rodents in the family Spalacidae, found in eastern Europe and western & central Asia. The hystricognath mole-rats of the family Bathyergidae are completely unrelated, but some other forms are also in the family Spalacidae. Zokors, root rats, and bamboo rats are spalacids also sometimes referred to as mole rats.
The European ground squirrel, also known as the European souslik, is a species from the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is among the few European species in the genus Spermophilus. Like all squirrels, it is a member of the rodent order. It is to be found in eastern and central Europe from southern Ukraine, to Asia Minor, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and north as far as Poland but the range is divided in two parts by the Carpathian Mountains.
The Burmese whiskered myotis or Burmese whiskered bat is a species of vesper bat. It is found in China, India, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
The Middle East blind mole-rat or Palestine mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae.
Nannospalax is a genus of rodent in the family Spalacidae, found in eastern Europe and western Asia. It is one of two genera in the blind mole-rats, alongside Spalax. Members of this genus are also known as small-bodied mole-rats. As with members of the genus Spalax, they are completely blind, with their eyes being entirely covered by skin.
The lesser blind mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine.
The sandy blind mole-rat is an endangered species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is endemic to Ukraine. It was first identified by Evdokia Reshetnik in 1939.
The giant blind mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae endemic to the North Caucasus region of Russia. It feeds on roots and tubers and lives underground in a burrow that it digs with its teeth.
The Bukovina blind mole-rat or (erroneously) the Balkan blind mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae found in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
The greater blind mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is found in Russia and Ukraine.
The Podolsk blind mole-rat or Podolian mole-rat is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is endemic to western and central Ukraine.
The Christmas Island shrew, also known as the Christmas Island musk-shrew is an extremely rare or possibly extinct shrew from Christmas Island. It was variously placed as subspecies of the Asian gray shrew or the Southeast Asian shrew, but morphological differences and the large distance between the species indicate that it is an entirely distinct species.
The Oriental serotine is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is widespread and found throughout Asia.
The Malaysian whiskered myotis or Malayan whiskered myotis is a species of vesper bat endemic to Malaysia, although it may possibly also occur in Indonesia.
Mehely's blind mole-rat is an endangered species of rodent in the family Spalacidae. It is endemic to Romania.
