Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Giant golden mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani), recorded as Endangered
Giant golden mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Giant golden mole

Chrysospalax trevelyani

The giant golden mole is a small mammal found in Africa.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Chrysospalax trevelyani
Taxonomy
Mammalia · Afrosoricida · Chrysochloridae · Chrysospalax

Appearance

Its skin is dark and brown on the upper parts and faded on the underparts, sometimes with a darker line down the mid-throat. Its coloration is slightly darker on the head, with two dull yellow patches where the eyes would be, and a yellow patch around the ear openings. This mole has dark, glossy brown fur. The name golden comes from the Greek word for green-gold, also the source of the name of the family, Chrysochloridae.

It is approximately 208–235 millimetres (8.2–9.3 in) in length and 410–500 grams (14–18 oz) in weight.

Range and habitat

The giant golden mole is a subterranean small mammal, living in chambers and passages underneath a very specific habitat, forests with soft soil, deep leaf litter layers, and well-developed undergrowth. The giant golden mole is endemic to South Africa, mostly in a restricted area in the Eastern Cape. The giant golden mole is a small mammal found in Africa.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet

The giant golden mole digs semi-permanent tunnels about 10 metres (33 ft) in length linked by surface runways for hunting food and may feed on the surface hiding in the leaf litter.

In crisis

Research is needed to protect this species and to assess the status and viability of the remaining populations.

Giant golden mole is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Giant golden mole, Wikidata item Q1765489. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

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Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
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Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Quick answers

What is Giant golden mole?
The giant golden mole is a small mammal found in Africa.
What is the conservation status of Giant golden mole?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Chrysospalax trevelyani. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Giant golden mole live?
The giant golden mole is a subterranean small mammal, living in chambers and passages underneath a very specific habitat, forests with soft soil, deep leaf litter layers, and well-developed undergrowth.
Why is Giant golden mole in crisis?
Research is needed to protect this species and to assess the status and viability of the remaining populations.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Chrysospalax trevelyani?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Giant golden mole a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.