The giant golden mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani) is a small mammal that lives in Africa. It is the largest of all golden mole species, measuring 23 centimeters (9.1 inches) in length. This animal has dark, shiny brown fur. The name "golden" comes from the Greek word for green-gold, which is also where the name of its family, Chrysochloridae, originates.

Characteristics

The giant golden mole lives underground. It has large claws that are about 17 millimeters (0.67 inches) long and 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) wide at the base. Its front legs are strong, and it does not have an external tail or ears. Its head is wedge-shaped, and it has a leather pad and skin covering its eyes. The mole is between 208 and 235 millimeters (8.2 to 9.3 inches) long and weighs between 410 and 500 grams (14 to 18 ounces). Its skin is dark brown on top and lighter on the bottom, sometimes with a darker line down the middle of the throat. Its head is slightly darker, with two dull yellow areas where its eyes would be and a yellow patch near the ear openings. Its hair is longer and coarser than any other golden mole species. The hair is about 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) long, thick, and has dense, woolly fur underneath.

Biology

The giant golden mole is the largest, rarest, and most endangered of the 17 golden mole species. It lives mostly underground and is blind and deaf. It is active at night, hunting for food, but may also hunt during cool, cloudy days. It lives alone and does not form groups, even though it sometimes shares burrows with other giant golden moles during winter. It moves slightly in these burrows to stay warm and twitches while sleeping to regulate its body temperature. Female giant golden moles give birth to one or two young when they have enough food stored. A parasite called Heptamegacanthus niekerki attaches to the inside of the giant golden mole’s rectum.

The giant golden mole digs tunnels about 10 meters (33 feet) long that connect to surface paths used for hunting. It mainly eats millipedes and giant earthworms but also eats crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, worms, and snails. It often stays on the surface, hiding in leaf litter while searching for food.

Habitat

The giant golden mole is a small mammal that lives underground in tunnels and chambers beneath the ground. It lives in forests with soft soil, thick layers of fallen leaves, and dense undergrowth. This animal is found only in South Africa, mainly in a specific area of the Eastern Cape.

Population

The giant golden mole was listed as Endangered (EN) in 2010 on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Its population is getting smaller because its habitat is being lost. This loss is mainly caused by human activities, such as collecting firewood, stripping bark, cutting trees for buildings, overgrazing by livestock, and clearing forests. In addition, domestic dogs in the area hunt the giant golden mole.

The giant golden mole currently has little protection and is not a major focus for conservation efforts. More research is needed to help protect this species and to understand the current situation and survival chances of the remaining populations.