Difference between revisions of "Afrosoricida" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
(Added article from Wikipedia and credit/category tags)
 
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**** Order [[Sirenia]]: manatees and dugongs
 
**** Order [[Sirenia]]: manatees and dugongs
 
** (Other superorders, not listed here)
 
** (Other superorders, not listed here)
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==Golden mole==
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{{automatic taxobox
 +
| taxon = Chrysochloridae
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| image = Taupe doree.jpg
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| name = Golden moles<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Bronner|pages=77-81|id=11100051}}</ref>
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| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Early Miocene|Recent}}<ref name=MamEv>{{cite book |author= Savage, RJG, & Long, MR|year=1986 |title= Mammal Evolution: an illustrated guide|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 53|isbn= 0-8160-1194-X}}</ref>
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| subdivision_ranks = Genera
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| subdivision =
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{{species list
 +
|[[Eremitalpa]]|Roberts, 1924
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|[[Chrysospalax]]|Gill, 1883
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|[[Chrysochloris]]|Lacépède, 1799
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|[[Cryptochloris]]|Shortridge & Carter, 1938
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|[[Carpitalpa]]|Lundholm, 1955
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|[[Chlorotalpa]]|Roberts, 1924
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|[[Calcochloris]]|Mivart, 1867
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|[[Amblysomus]]|Pomel, 1848
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|[[Neamblysomus]]|Roberts, 1924
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}}
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| authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1825
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| parent_authority = [[Robert Broom|Broom]], 1915}}
 +
 +
'''Golden moles''' are small, insectivorous burrowing [[mammal]]s native to southern [[Africa]]. They form the family '''Chrysochloridae'''. They are [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomically]] distinct from the [[mole (animal)|true moles]], which they resemble due to [[Convergent evolution|convergence]]. The golden moles bear a remarkable resemblance to the [[marsupial mole]]s of [[Australia]], so much so that, the [[marsupial]]/[[placental]] divide notwithstanding, arguments were once made that they were related, possibly because they are very primitive placentals and because of the many mole-like specializations.
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==Characteristics==
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Golden moles live almost exclusively underground, beneath [[grassveld]], forest, swamps, deserts, or mountainous terrain. Like several other burrowing mammals with similar habits, they have short legs with powerful digging claws, very dense fur that repels dirt and moisture, and toughened skin, particularly on the head. Their eyes are non-functional and covered with skin and fur, the ears are just tiny openings, and, like the marsupial moles, they have an enlarged leather-like pad to protect their nostrils. Their primary sense is that of [[somatosensory system|touch]], and they are particularly sensitive to vibrations that may indicate approaching danger.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Kuyper, Margaret|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 764–765|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref>
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They range in size from about 8 to about 20&nbsp;cm. They have muscular shoulders and an enlarged third claw on the forelimbs to aid digging, with no fifth digit and vestigial first and fourth digits; the hind feet retain all five toes and are webbed to allow efficient backward shoveling of the soil loosened with the front claws. They feed on small insects, which are located with the sense of hearing. Grant's golden mole (''Eremitalpa granti'') can cover 6&nbsp;km each night looking for food.<ref name="Piper 2007">[[Ross Piper|Piper, Ross]] (2007), ''Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals'', [[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]].</ref>
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While the desert species simply 'swim' through loose sand, all other species construct permanent [[burrow]]s. The burrows are relatively complex in form, and may penetrate as far as a metre below ground. They include deep chambers for use as bolt-holes, and others as latrines. Excavated soil is pushed up to the surface as ridges or mole-hills, or is compacted into the tunnel walls. During extremely hot weather, Grant's golden mole will retreat to depths of around 50&nbsp;cm and enter a state of torpor, thus conserving energy.<ref name="Piper 2007"/>
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Females give birth to one to three hairless young in a grass-lined nest within the burrow system. Breeding occurs throughout the year. The adults are solitary, and their burrowing territory may be aggressively defended from intruders, especially where resources are relatively scarce.<ref name=EoM/>
 +
 +
Because these mammals were previously thought to have originated in [[Gondwana]], golden moles used to be regarded as rather 'primitive' creatures: their low resting metabolic rate and their ability to switch off thermoregulation when inactive, however, are no longer regarded as indications that golden moles are undeveloped 'reptilian mammals', but rather as essential adaptations to a harsh climate. By going into a torpor when resting or during cold weather, they conserve energy and reduce their need for food. Similarly, they have developed particularly efficient kidneys and most species do not need to drink water at all. Like the [[tenrecs]], they possess a [[cloaca]], and males lack a [[scrotum]].
 +
 +
Golden moles use a head-dipping behavior to detect the vibrations produced by grass mounts in order to position themselves within detection range of the head-banging alarms produced by their termite prey.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Narins PM; Lewis ER; Jarvis JJUM; O’Riain J|year=1997|title=The use of seismic signals by fossorial southern African mammals: a neuroethological gold mine|journal=Brain Research Bulletin|volume=44|pages=641–646}}</ref>
 +
 +
==Status==
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Of the 21 species of golden mole, no fewer than 11 are threatened with extinction. The primary causes are [[sand mining]], poor agricultural practices, increasing urbanisation, and predation by domestic cats and dogs.
 +
 +
==Classification==
 +
As with many groups, the classification of the golden moles is undergoing an upheaval at present in the light of the flood of new genetic information becoming available. They have traditionally been listed with the [[shrew]]s, [[hedgehog]]s and a grab-bag of small, difficult-to-place creatures as part of the order [[Insectivora]]. Some authorities retain this classification, at least for the time being. Others group the golden moles with the [[tenrec]]s in a new order, which is sometimes known as [[Tenrecomorpha]], while others call it [[Afrosoricida]] and reserve Tenrecomorpha for the Tenrecidae family.
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* '''ORDER [[Afrosoricida|AFROSORICIDA]]'''
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** Suborder [[Tenrecomorpha]]
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*** Family [[Tenrecidae]]: tenrecs, 34 species in 10 genera
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** '''Suborder Chrysochloridea'''
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*** '''Family Chrysochloridae'''
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**** Subfamily [[Chrysochlorinae]]
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***** Genus ''[[Carpitalpa]]''
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****** [[Arend's golden mole]] (''Carpitalpa arendsi'')
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***** Genus ''[[Chlorotalpa]]''
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****** [[Duthie's golden mole]] (''Chlorotalpa duthieae'')
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****** [[Sclater's golden mole]] (''Chlorotalpa sclateri'')
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***** Genus ''[[Chrysochloris]]''
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****** Subgenus ''Chrysochloris''
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******* [[Cape golden mole]] (''Chrysochloris asiatica'')
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******* [[Visagie's golden mole]] (''Chrysochloris visagiei'')
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****** Subgenus ''Kilimatalpa''
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******* [[Stuhlmann's golden mole]] (''Chrysochloris stuhlmanni'')
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***** Genus ''[[Chrysospalax]]''
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****** [[Giant golden mole]] (''Chrysospalax trevelyani'')
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****** [[Rough-haired golden mole]] (''Chrysospalax villosus'')
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***** Genus ''[[Cryptochloris]]''
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****** [[De Winton's golden mole]] (''Cryptochloris wintoni'')
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****** [[Van Zyl's golden mole]] (''Cryptochloris zyli'')
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***** Genus ''[[Eremitalpa]]''
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****** [[Grant's golden mole]] (''Eremitalpa granti'')
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**** Subfamily [[Amblysominae]]
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***** Genus ''[[Amblysomus]]''
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****** [[Fynbos golden mole]] (''Amblysomus corriae'')
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****** [[Hottentot golden mole]] (''Amblysomus hottentotus'')
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****** [[Marley's golden mole]] (''Amblysomus marleyi'')
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****** [[Robust golden mole]] (''Amblysomus robustus'')
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****** [[Highveld golden mole]] (''Amblysomus septentrionalis'')
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***** Genus ''[[Calcochloris]]''
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****** Subgenus ''Huetia''
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******* [[Congo golden mole]] (''Calcochloris leucorhinus'')
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****** Subgenus ''Calcochloris''
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******* [[Yellow golden mole]] (''Calcochloris obtusirostris'')
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****** Subgenus ''[[incertae sedis]]''
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******* [[Somali golden mole]] (''Calcochloris tytonis'')
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***** Genus ''[[Neamblysomus]]''
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****** [[Juliana's golden mole]] (''Neamblysomus julianae'')
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****** [[Gunning's golden mole]] (''Neamblysomus gunningi'')
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 +
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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{{credit|Afrosoricida|565261128}}
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{{credit|Afrosoricida|565261128|Golden_mole|555609980}}

Revision as of 23:20, 23 April 2014

Afrosoricida[1]
Fossil range: Early Miocene–Recent
Tenrec ecaudatus
Tenrec ecaudatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Superorder: Afrotheria
Order: Afrosoricida
Stanhope, 1998
Families

 Chrysochloridae
 Tenrecidae

The order Afrosoricida (a Latin-Greek compound name which means "looking like African shrews") contains the golden moles of southern Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar and Africa, two families of small mammals that have traditionally been considered to be a part of the order Insectivora.

Some biologists use Tenrecomorpha as the name for the tenrec-golden mole clade, but Gary Bronner and Paulina Jenkins argue that Afrosoricida is more appropriate, despite their misgivings about the similarity between the name "Afrosoricida" and the unrelated shrew subgenus Afrosorex.[1]

Traditionally, these two families were grouped with the hedgehogs, shrews and moles in the Lipotyphla. However, there have always been minority opinions suggesting that Tenrecomorpha, or at least the golden moles, are not true lipotyphlans. These opinions are now supported by many genetic studies indicating an association between Tenrecomorpha and various other African mammals in the superorder Afrotheria; however there is no strong morphological evidence to link the Afrosoricida together with other Afrotherians. The Afrosoricida are sometimes considered part of the Afroinsectiphilia, a clade within Afrotheria.

As a rule, tenrecs tend to be small animals varying from 4 cm to 39 cm in length. There is no pronounced body type since they have evolved to take over the insect-eating niche in Madagascar. However, based on the niche occupied, they look like shrews, hedgehogs or otters. Their coat can vary from smooth to spiny and the coloration of the fur is generally dirt brown. Most species are also nocturnal and have poor eyesight. However, their whiskers are rather sensitive and they can detect very minute vibrations in the ground to locate their prey.

  • INFRACLASS EUTHERIA: placental mammals
    • Superorder Afrotheria
      • Clade Afroinsectiphilia
        • Order Afrosoricida
          • Suborder Tenrecomorpha
            • Family Tenrecidae: tenrecs and otter shrews; 30 species in 10 genera
          • Suborder Chrysochloridea
        • Order Macroscelidea: elephant shrews
        • Order Tubulidentata: Aardvark
      • Clade Paenungulata
    • (Other superorders, not listed here)

Golden mole

Template:Automatic taxobox

Golden moles are small, insectivorous burrowing mammals native to southern Africa. They form the family Chrysochloridae. They are taxonomically distinct from the true moles, which they resemble due to convergence. The golden moles bear a remarkable resemblance to the marsupial moles of Australia, so much so that, the marsupial/placental divide notwithstanding, arguments were once made that they were related, possibly because they are very primitive placentals and because of the many mole-like specializations.

Characteristics

Golden moles live almost exclusively underground, beneath grassveld, forest, swamps, deserts, or mountainous terrain. Like several other burrowing mammals with similar habits, they have short legs with powerful digging claws, very dense fur that repels dirt and moisture, and toughened skin, particularly on the head. Their eyes are non-functional and covered with skin and fur, the ears are just tiny openings, and, like the marsupial moles, they have an enlarged leather-like pad to protect their nostrils. Their primary sense is that of touch, and they are particularly sensitive to vibrations that may indicate approaching danger.[2]

They range in size from about 8 to about 20 cm. They have muscular shoulders and an enlarged third claw on the forelimbs to aid digging, with no fifth digit and vestigial first and fourth digits; the hind feet retain all five toes and are webbed to allow efficient backward shoveling of the soil loosened with the front claws. They feed on small insects, which are located with the sense of hearing. Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti) can cover 6 km each night looking for food.[3]

While the desert species simply 'swim' through loose sand, all other species construct permanent burrows. The burrows are relatively complex in form, and may penetrate as far as a metre below ground. They include deep chambers for use as bolt-holes, and others as latrines. Excavated soil is pushed up to the surface as ridges or mole-hills, or is compacted into the tunnel walls. During extremely hot weather, Grant's golden mole will retreat to depths of around 50 cm and enter a state of torpor, thus conserving energy.[3]

Females give birth to one to three hairless young in a grass-lined nest within the burrow system. Breeding occurs throughout the year. The adults are solitary, and their burrowing territory may be aggressively defended from intruders, especially where resources are relatively scarce.[2]

Because these mammals were previously thought to have originated in Gondwana, golden moles used to be regarded as rather 'primitive' creatures: their low resting metabolic rate and their ability to switch off thermoregulation when inactive, however, are no longer regarded as indications that golden moles are undeveloped 'reptilian mammals', but rather as essential adaptations to a harsh climate. By going into a torpor when resting or during cold weather, they conserve energy and reduce their need for food. Similarly, they have developed particularly efficient kidneys and most species do not need to drink water at all. Like the tenrecs, they possess a cloaca, and males lack a scrotum.

Golden moles use a head-dipping behavior to detect the vibrations produced by grass mounts in order to position themselves within detection range of the head-banging alarms produced by their termite prey.[4]

Status

Of the 21 species of golden mole, no fewer than 11 are threatened with extinction. The primary causes are sand mining, poor agricultural practices, increasing urbanisation, and predation by domestic cats and dogs.

Classification

As with many groups, the classification of the golden moles is undergoing an upheaval at present in the light of the flood of new genetic information becoming available. They have traditionally been listed with the shrews, hedgehogs and a grab-bag of small, difficult-to-place creatures as part of the order Insectivora. Some authorities retain this classification, at least for the time being. Others group the golden moles with the tenrecs in a new order, which is sometimes known as Tenrecomorpha, while others call it Afrosoricida and reserve Tenrecomorpha for the Tenrecidae family.

  • ORDER AFROSORICIDA
    • Suborder Tenrecomorpha
      • Family Tenrecidae: tenrecs, 34 species in 10 genera
    • Suborder Chrysochloridea
      • Family Chrysochloridae
        • Subfamily Chrysochlorinae
          • Genus Carpitalpa
            • Arend's golden mole (Carpitalpa arendsi)
          • Genus Chlorotalpa
            • Duthie's golden mole (Chlorotalpa duthieae)
            • Sclater's golden mole (Chlorotalpa sclateri)
          • Genus Chrysochloris
            • Subgenus Chrysochloris
              • Cape golden mole (Chrysochloris asiatica)
              • Visagie's golden mole (Chrysochloris visagiei)
            • Subgenus Kilimatalpa
              • Stuhlmann's golden mole (Chrysochloris stuhlmanni)
          • Genus Chrysospalax
            • Giant golden mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani)
            • Rough-haired golden mole (Chrysospalax villosus)
          • Genus Cryptochloris
            • De Winton's golden mole (Cryptochloris wintoni)
            • Van Zyl's golden mole (Cryptochloris zyli)
          • Genus Eremitalpa
            • Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti)
        • Subfamily Amblysominae
          • Genus Amblysomus
            • Fynbos golden mole (Amblysomus corriae)
            • Hottentot golden mole (Amblysomus hottentotus)
            • Marley's golden mole (Amblysomus marleyi)
            • Robust golden mole (Amblysomus robustus)
            • Highveld golden mole (Amblysomus septentrionalis)
          • Genus Calcochloris
            • Subgenus Huetia
              • Congo golden mole (Calcochloris leucorhinus)
            • Subgenus Calcochloris
              • Yellow golden mole (Calcochloris obtusirostris)
            • Subgenus incertae sedis
              • Somali golden mole (Calcochloris tytonis)
          • Genus Neamblysomus
            • Juliana's golden mole (Neamblysomus julianae)
            • Gunning's golden mole (Neamblysomus gunningi)


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Template:MSW3 Bronner
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kuyper, Margaret (1984). in Macdonald, D.: The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File, 764–765. ISBN 0-87196-871-1. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Piper, Ross (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press.
  4. ↑ Narins PM; Lewis ER; Jarvis JJUM; O’Riain J (1997). The use of seismic signals by fossorial southern African mammals: a neuroethological gold mine. Brain Research Bulletin 44: 641–646.

See also

  • Pseudoungulata
  • List of mammals of Madagascar
Mammals
Monotremata (platypus, echidnas)

Marsupialia: | Paucituberculata (shrew opossums) | Didelphimorphia (opossums) | Microbiotheria | Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles) | Dasyuromorphia (quolls and dunnarts) | Peramelemorphia (bilbies, bandicoots) | Diprotodontia (kangaroos and relatives)

Placentalia: Cingulata (armadillos) | Pilosa (anteaters, sloths) | Afrosoricida (tenrecs, golden moles) | Macroscelidea (elephant shrews) | Tubulidentata (aardvark) | Hyracoidea (hyraxes) | Proboscidea (elephants) | Sirenia (dugongs, manatees) | Soricomorpha (shrews, moles) | Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and relatives) Chiroptera (bats) | Pholidota (pangolins)| Carnivora | Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates) | Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) | Cetacea (whales, dolphins) | Rodentia (rodents) | Lagomorpha (rabbits and relatives) | Scandentia (treeshrews) | Dermoptera (colugos) | Primates |


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