Georychus capensis (Pallas 1778)

[Mus] capensis Pallas 1778, Nova Spec. Quad. Glir. Ord.: 172.

Type Locality: South Africa, Cape of Good Hope.

Vernacular Names: Cape Mole-rat.

Synonyms: Georychus buffonii (Cuvier 1834); Georychus canescens (Thomas and Schwann 1906); Georychus leucops (Lichtenstein 1844); Georychus yatesi (Roberts 1913) .

Distribution: South Africa.

Conservation: IUCN – KwaZulu Natal population Critically Endangered, otherwise Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Roberts (1951) recognized three subspecies capensis, canescens and yatesi but de Graaff (1975) considered this taxon monotypic. Karyotype has 2n=54 and FN=100 (Nevo et al., 1986). Honeycutt et al. (1991:53) indicated there may be two species in South Africa, based on differences in mtDNA sequences and allozyme frequencies.