Duthie's golden mole
species of mammal
Duthie's golden mole (Chlorotalpa duthieae) is a species of mammal in the family Chrysochloridae. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, temperate grassland, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban area. The specific name duthieae was given in honour of Dr. Augusta Vera Duthie, a South African botanist.
Description
Duthie's golden mole has a head-and-body length of between 100 and 130 mm (3.9 and 5.1 in), with a short tail averaging 12 mm (0.5 in). The upper parts are a lustrous reddish-black or brownish-black, while the underparts are greyish. There are pale markings on the muzzle and around the eyes. Males tend to be larger than females.
Distribution and habitat
Duthie's golden mole is endemic to South Africa where it only occurs in a coastal strip about 275 km (170 mi) in length to the west of Port Elizabeth.
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