Myospalax myospalax Laxmann 1773

Myospalax myospalax Laxmann 1773, K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl. Stockholm, 34: 134.

Type Locality: Russia, Altai Krai, 100 km SE of Barnaul, Sommaren, near Paniusheva on Alei River.

Vernacular Names: Altai Zokor.

Synonyms: Myospalax incertus Ognev 1936; Myospalax komurai Mori 1927; Myospalax laxmanni Sherskey 1873; Myospalax tarbagataicus Ognev 1936 .

Distribution: Altai Mtns and upper basin of Ob and Irtysh River drainages in S Russia, and E Kazakhstan (entire N region of Cisaltai plain and foothills as well as the W and C Altai; see Ognev, 1947).

Conservation: IUCN - Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: M. myospalax species group. As part of a study of 25 extant rodent genera, morphology and schmelzmuster of rootless molars in M. myospalax and their relation to jaw movement were documented (Koenigswald et al., 1994). Gambaryan and Gasc (1993) presented a cinefluorographiccal, anatomical, and biomechanical analyses of burrowing in M. myospalax to reveal the adaptive properties of its musculoskeletal system. See account of M. aspalax for chromosomal contrasts.