Cryptochloris zyli (Van Zyl's Golden Mole)

[Melanie]

Cryptochloris zyli

Additional material of the enigmatic golden mole
Cryptochloris zyli, with notes on the genus
Cryptochloris (Mammalia: Chrysochloridae)

K.M. Helgen1 & D.E. Wilson2
Mammal Department, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
E-mail: [e-mail]
Division ofMammals, National Museum ofNatural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, U.S.A.
Received 21 July 2000. Accepted 24 November 2000

Van Zyl's golden mole (Cryptochloris zyli) is a distinctive
but little-known species from the northwestern
Cape Province of South Africa. Many authors have
mentioned that it is known only by the holotype. Two
other specimens are now known to exist; one was
discovered in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at
Harvard University, and the other, which has been
mentioned in publication but overlooked, is in the
Natural History Museum in London. Differentiation of C. zyli from sympatric chrysochlorids, and from its
congener C. wintoni, are discussed.
Keywords: Chrysochloridae, systematics, South Africa.
In 1938 G.C. Shortridge and T.D. Carter named a
new genus and species of golden mole, Cryptochloris
zyli, based on a single specimen collected by
Gideon van Zyl. This specimen, an adult
male with original number 3477, was collected on 13 January 1937 at Compagnies Drift, '10 miles
[16.1 km] inland from Lamberts Bay', in the northwestern
Cape Province (Shortridge & Carter 1938:
284). The holotype is number 837 in the collections
of the Amathole Museum (AM), King William's
Town, South Africa. Most recent authors recognize
C. zyli as a valid species (Hutterer 1993; Meester
1974; Meester et al. 1986; Nowak 1999; Skinner &
Smithers 1990), noting that it is known only by a
single specimen. The genus Cryptochloris also contains
the species C. wintoni (Broom, 1907), known
from only a few specimens.
A second specimen of C. zyli, represented by skin
and skull, exists in the Museum of Comparative
Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University. The
unsexed specimen, MCZ 39628, was collected by
Van Zyl in January 1938 at the type locality and
bears the original number 3650; it was originally
identified by G.C. Shortridge. The original label
designates this specimen as a paratype, although
the type description mentions that only one specimen
was collected. No field measurements are
available for MCZ 39628; Van Zyl noted on the tag
that it was collected at an approximate altitude of
100 feet (= 30.5 m).
Unfortunately, the cranium of MCZ 39628 is
fragmented posterior to the frontals; the palate
and maxillary dentition are, however, fully intact.
Of the cranial measurements included in the
original description of C. zyli, only the length of
the maxillary tooth row from incisor to posterior
molar (9.4 mm), and the posterior width of the
palate (6.0 mm), can be made for this specimen.
In addition, Simonetta (1968) referred to and
provided a detailed illustration of the skull of
another specimen of C. zyli, number 49-240 in the
Natural History Museum, London (formerly
AM 842). This specimen, also designated as a
paratype, was collected 28 March 1938 at the
type locality, also by Gideon van Zyl. Like the
MCZ 'paratype,' the specimen was collected at an
approximate altitude of 100 ft (= 30.5 m). Measurements
for the London specimen are as follows:
greatest length of skull, 21.7 mm, palatal breadth
(across posterior molars), 7.8 mm, maxillary tooth
row (excluding incisors), 8.0 mm.
In addition to C. zyli, two other species of golden
mole are known from Compagnies Drift, Cape
Province - Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti),
and the Cape golden mole (Chrysochloris asiatica).
The former species is easily distinguishable
from Cryptochloris by its lack of iridescent pelage
and absence of temporal bullae (Nowak 1999).
Distinguishing Chrysochloris and Cryptochloris is
more difficult, but relative to Chrysochloris,
Cryptochloris has a better developed first digit of
the manus, lighter pelage with a more silvery
ventrum, greater frontal expansion of the cranium
and smaller temporal bullae. In addition, the
second upper incisor in Chrysochloris is markedly
larger than the third incisor and canine, while the
difference in the comparative size of all three teeth
is much less noticeable in Cryptochloris. Most of
these differences are illustrated well in Simonetta
(1968), and are also evident when comparing the
MCZ specimen with the series of Chrysochloris
asiatica in that museum, also collected at
Compagnies Drift by Van Zyl in 1938.
Some confusion has existed since the description
of C. zyli regarding the proper classification of
wintoni and zyli, the two named forms of
Cryptochloris. Early revisions after Shortridge &
Carter (1938) included both as subspecies of the
single species C. wintoni (Ellerman et al. 1953;
Simonetta 1968), but, as mentioned above, recent
systematic accounts have accorded specific status
to both forms. This latter arrangement is based
on several supposed morphological differences
between the two. Ellerman et al. (1953: 39) suggested
that zyli has a slightly larger and narrower
skull than wintoni'. We have not observed enough
specimens to comment on the validity of this
claim. Meester (1974) noted that the malleus, an
important character in chrysochlorid systematics
(Cooper 1928; Simonetta 1957), is more elongate in
zyli and more bulbous in wintoni. This observation
is presumably based on an examination of the
Amathole specimen of C. zyli, but cannot be
supported by the MCZ specimen, due to the fragmentation
of the cranium. Simonetta (1968: 40)
noted that the specimen of zyli in London has a
malleus smaller, but as club-shaped as C[hrysochloris]
asiatica,' but as he had observed no specimens
he could refer to wintoni, he was unable to
comment on the purported differentiation of the
malleus between the two forms.
The most noticeable difference between zyli and
wintoni is their contrasting external colouration
and iridescence. C. zyli is darker and more brown
than C. wintoni, and has a purplish iridescence
whereas in wintoni the iridescence is more silvery,
as recorded by Skinner & Smithers (1990). Although
the observations of those authors were apparently
again based solely on the Amathole
specimen of zyli, the additional specimens uphold
this distinction. In both additional specimens of zyli, at Harvard and London, the pelage is brown
with a notable purplish iridescence on the dorsum,
with a paler ventrum and buffy white markings
on the face, exactly as originally described by
Shortridge and Carter. It is noticeably darker than
the specimen of C. wintoni (United States National
Museum, number 468319) thatwe have examined.
These additional specimens described here,
which appear to have been wholly or largely overlooked
by researchers, greatly increase the
amount of available material that can be referred
to Cryptochloris zyli, and may serve to provide
valuable insight into the systematics of this littleknown
genus and species. A more elaborate investigation,
bringing together these three specimens
with all known material referable to C. wintoni,
would probably conclusively establish the proper
relationship of these two forms with each other. In
addition, such an investigation would probably
clarify the relationship of Cryptochloris to other
chrysochlorid genera, especially Chrysochloris, of
which it is occasionally considered a subgenus. In
light of these additional specimens, and through
comparison with other chrysochlorids of the
southern African region, we feel it is best to
continue to recognize Cryptochloris as a distinctive
genus, consisting of two species, each known at
present from extremely narrow geographical
ranges in the coastal sand dunes of southwestern
Africa.
We are thankful to C.T. Chimimba, L. Claessens, and
two reviewers for their comments in preparing this
manuscript, and to M. Rutzmoser of the MCZ.
REFERENCES
COOPER, C.F. 1928. On the ear region of certain of the
Chrysochloridae. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal
Society of London (B) 216: 265-283.
ELLERMAN, J.R., MORRISON-SCOTT, T.C.S. & HAYMAN,
R.W. 1953. Southern African Mammals 1758 to
1951. British Museum (Natural History), London.
HUTTERER, R. 1993. Order Insectivora. In: Mammal
Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic
Reference, (eds) D.E. Wilson & D.R. Reeder, 2nd edn,
pp. 69-130. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington,
D.C.
MEESTER, J.A.J. 1974. Order Insectivora, Family
Chrysochloridae. In: The Mammals ofAfrica: An Identification
Manual, (eds) J. Meester &HW Setzer, Part 1.3,
pp. 1-7. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
MEESTER, J.A.J., RAUTENBACH, I.L., DIPPENAAR,
N.J., & BAKER, CM. 1986. Classification of southern
African mammals. Transvaal Museum Monographs 5:
1-359.
NOWAK, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th
edn. )ohns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
SIMONETTA, A. 1957. Anatomia e significato
morfologico e sistematico dell'orecchio medio e delle
strutture ad esso connesse in alcuni insettivori
(Suncus, Talpa, Chrysochloris). Archivio Italiano di
Anatomia e di Embriologia 62: 55-94.
SIMONETTA, A.M. 1968. A new golden mole from
Somalia with an appendix on the taxonomy of the
family Chrysochloridae (Mammalia: Insectivora).
Monitore Zoologico italiano 2 (suppl.): 27-55.
SHORTRIDGE, G.C. & CARTER, T.D. 1938. A new genus
and new species and subspecies of mammals from
Little Namaqualand and the north-west Cape Province;
and a new subspecies of Gerbillus paeba from the
eastern Cape Province. Annals of the South African
Museum 32: 281-291.
SKINNER, J.D. & SMITHERS, R.H.N. 1990. Mammals of
the Southern African Subregion, 2nd edn. University of
Pretoria, Pretoria.

si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/4695/1/VZ_dew1.pdf

[another specialist]

The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals
By M. G. L. Mills, Lex Hes

[another specialist]

The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals
By M. G. L. Mills, Lex Hes

[Melanie]

A third specimen was found in 2003

[another specialist]

an Zyl’s golden moles (Cryptochloris zyli) are ancient mammals which live under the ground. They have shiny dense fur coat which protect them against cold. Their ears and eyes are not visible, in fact they are blind. Their eyes are covered with hairy skins and their ears are small and are hidden in the animal’s fur [1].

The Van Zyl’s golden mole lives in the coastal dure belt. It weighs about 20-30 grams and it is also 80-90 millimetres long. The Van Zyl’s golden mole eats various invertebrates such as legless lizards, which can grow to a length of about 2.0 millimetres. The offsprings of Van Zyl’s golden mole are born in a grass-lined cavity in the ground. The adult golden moles usually dig tunnels under the ground for shelter [1].

The golden moles are known to be native to Compagnies Drift, which is 16 kilometres inland from Lambert’s bay, north-western Cape Province, South Africa. The Van Zyl’s golden moles are threatened by the continued loss of diversity. What is causing the loss of biodiversity or habitat of the Van Zyl’s golden mole? One of the causes is the mining of coastal dunes for the alluvial diamond could lead to the loss of Van Zyl’s golden mole habitat. The destruction of habitat is associated with tourism development along the west coast. There are about 21 species of Van Zyl’s golden mole which are known. In South Africa there are 18 species which are already known. A. carriae is a Van Zyl’s golden mole which is found at fynbos and it is called the fynbos golden mole. The cape golden mole (C. asiatica) is found at Stellenbosch. Both the fynbos and cape mole live under the soil but they prefer different soil types. At Wakkerstroom the golden mole (Amblysomus septentrionalis) is found only in grass land [2].

When the Van Zyl’s golden mole is awake it is always busy digging or on the move so that it can maintain its body temperature normal. If the Van Zyl’s golden mole stay for too long without doing anything, its temperature will drop dramatically. What happens to the Van Zyl’s golden mole when they are sleeping or they don’t sleep at all since their temperature drops drastically? Luckily the Van Zyl’s golden mole have a muscles twitch when they are sleeping which protect them from dying of cold. The muscle twitch produces energy while they are sleeping to help maintain their body temperature [1].

According the IUCN the Van Zyl’s golden mole is an endangered. When they did there study in 1994 they found that the status of Van Zyl’s golden mole was indeterminate, which means they were lot of them. When the same study was repeated in 1996-2004 they found that that the Van Zyl’s golden mole was critically endangered, which means they have declined dramatically in their number. In 2006 they found that they were still endangered. The Van Zyl’s golden mole is currently found in South Africa [3].

Why the Van Zyl’s golden mole needs to be conserved? According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species includes 10 species of golden mole species which are endangered and most of them are facing extinction [4]. All the 10 species are found in South Africa. The Van Zyl’s golden mole are declining in number or facing extinction because of the increase in the habitat degradation which is caused by human activities. Human destroy the habitat of Van Zyl’s golden moles mostly by mining, urbanisation, agriculture and the poor management of indigenous forests.

References:

[1]. Massicot, P. Animal Info - Van Zyl's Golden Mole. [Internet] Last modified: 2006 Jun 4. [cited 2007 Mar 25]. Available from: www.animalinfo.org/species/crypzyli.htm

[2]. Bronner, G. Golden moles. [Internet]. [cited 2007 Mar 25]. Available from: www.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/afrotheria/golden_moles/

[3]. Massicot, P. Animal Info - Notes on the IUCN Red List Categories. [Internet]. Last modified: 2004 Jul 28. [Cited 2007 Mar 25]. Available from: www.animalinfo.org/notes.htm#IUCNcat

[4]. Bronner, G. 2006. Cryptochloris zyli. In: IUCN 2006. (Afrotheria Specialist Group). 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [Internet]. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org/

Image credits:

[5].Van Zyl’s golden mole www.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/afrotheria/golden_moles/photos/Cryptochloris_zyli.jpg
Lethabo Mosomane
CSIR
Pretoria
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Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
mail: [e-mail]
lmosomane.blogspot.com

www.ratemyeverything.net/post/5298/Rate_My_Mole.aspx

[another specialist]

Van Zyl's Golden Mole (Cryptochloris zyli) is a golden mole endemic to the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is listed as an endangered species due to habitat loss. Golden moles are an ancient group of mammals who live mostly below ground. They have shiny coats of dense fur and a streamlined, formless appearance. They have no visible eyes or ears; in fact, they are blind - the small eyes are covered with hairy skin. The ears are small and are hidden in the animal's fur.

Van Zyl's Golden Mole is about 80 - 90 mm (3 - 3.5") long and weighs about 20 - 30 g (0.7 - 1.0 oz). It lives in the coastal dune belt and adjacent sandy areas. Usually two young are born, sometimes one. Van Zyl's Golden Mole eats various invertebrates , as well as legless lizards, which grow to a length of about 20 cm (8"). The young of golden moles are born in a grass-lined cavity in the ground. They usually dig their tunnels just below the ground.

Van Zyl's Golden Mole was initially known only from Compagnies Drift, 16 km (10 mi) inland from Lambert's Bay, northwestern Cape Province, South Africa. Another specimen was collected at Groenriviermond, approximately 150 km (90 mi) farther north along the Namaqualand coast, in 2003. Van Zyl's Golden Mole is threatened by continued loss of habitat. For example, mining of coastal dunes for alluvial diamonds could lead to habitat degradation. Habitat alteration associated with tourism developments along the west coast could also pose a problem for this species.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Zyl%27s_Golden_Mole

[another specialist]

Scientific Name: Cryptochloris zyli
Species Authority: Shortridge & Carter, 1938
Common Name/s:
English – Van Zyl's Golden Mole
Assessment Information [top]
Red List Category & Criteria: Endangered B1ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Assessed: 2008
Assessor/s Bronner, G.
Evaluator/s: Rathbun, G. (Afrotheria Red List Authority) & Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Justification:
Until recently known only from a single locality, but recently recorded from a second locality in 2003; this suggests that the range of this species is more widespread than previously recognized, though range continuity between these two sites should not be assumed. Not recorded from any existing conservation areas. Mining of coastal dune for alluvial diamonds could be a potential major threat leading to habitat degradation. The species is listed as Endangered.
History:
2006 – Endangered (IUCN 2006)
1996 – Critically Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994 – Indeterminate (Groombridge 1994)
1990 – Indeterminate (IUCN 1990)
1988 – Insufficiently Known (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: Until recently, recorded from only the type locality near Lambert's Bay, South Africa (Helgen and Wilson 2001). Another specimen was collected at Groenriviermond, some 150 km further north along the Namaqualand coast in November 2003, suggesting that the range of this species is more extensive than previously recognized.
Countries:
Native:
South Africa
Range Map:
(click map to view full version)
5749_v1224017208
Population [top]
Population: This species is extremely rare.
Population Trend: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal dune belt and adjacent sandy areas in Strandveld Succulent Karoo (Nama-Karoo biome).
Systems: Terrestrial
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): Mining of coastal sands for alluvial diamonds could be impacting on this species, as this has been identified as threat to Eremitalpa granti (Smithers 1986), with which this species coexists. However, the extent and impact of this potential threat is unknown. Habitat alteration associated with tourism developments along the west coast may pose an additional minor threat.
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: Not yet recorded in any proclaimed conservation areas, but would be protected by the proposed Groen-Spoeg National Park. Research is needed to establish distribution limits and to gather basic data on natural history of this species.

www.iucnredlist.org/details/5749

[Melanie]

moved to rediscovered