Giant golden mole | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Afrosoricida |
Family: | Chrysochloridae |
Genus: | Chrysospalax |
Species: | C. trevelyani |
Binomial name | |
Chrysospalax trevelyani (Günther, 1875) |
|
Giant golden mole range | |
Synonyms | |
Bematiscus trevelyani |
Bematiscus trevelyani
The giant golden mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani) is an endangered species of golden mole whose natural habit is the forests of Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.
The species was first collected by Herbert Trevelyan hunting near Pirie Forest near King William's town in British Caffraria. This 10-inch (25 cm) long mole is dark chocolate brown above with whitish underfur. The claws and margin of the lips are whitish. It is blind and has no external ear lobes and lacks a tail.