Tyrrhenian mole Temporal range: | |
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Fossil humerus of the Tyrrhenian mole (Talpa tyrrhenica) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Eulipotyphla |
Family: | Talpidae |
Genus: | Talpa |
Species: | †T. tyrrhenica |
Binomial name | |
†Talpa tyrrhenica Bate, 1945 | |
Talpa tyrrhenica, also known as the Tyrrhenian mole, is an extinct species of mole belonging to the genus Talpa . It was endemic to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia during the Pleistocene epoch. [1] [2] [3]
It was first described in 1945 by Dorothea Bate, [1] Remains with affinities to the species extend back to around 2 to 2.1 million years ago on the archipelago, during the Early Pleistocene. [4] It is suggested to have evolved from the mainland European species Talpa minor, which is known from the archipelago during the Pliocene. [5] It is estimated to have been around 15% larger than its mainland ancestor. [6] The species survived into the Late Pleistocene, but the timing of its extinction is uncertain due to a lack of radiocarbon dates. [7]
During the Middle-Late Pleistocene Corsica and Sardinia had their own highly endemic depauperate terrestrial mammal fauna which besides T. tyrrhenica included Tyrrhenian field rat, ( Rhagamys orthodon ), the Sardinian pika ( Prolagus sardus ), a shrew ( Asoriculus similis ), the Tyrrhenian vole ( Microtus henseli ), the Sardinian dhole (Cynotherium sardous), a galictine mustelid ( Enhydrictis galictoides ), a dwarf mammoth ( Mammuthus lamarmorai ) three species of otter ( Algarolutra majori, Sardolutra ichnusae, Megalenhydris barbaricina ) and a deer ( Praemegaceros cazioti ). [4]