Myospalax myospalax (Laxmann, 1773)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Spalacidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 108-142 : 131

1.

Altai Zokor

Myospalax myospalax

French: Zokor de I'Altai / German: Sibirien-Blindmull / Spanish: Zocor de Altai

Other common names: Siberian Zokor

Taxonomy. Mus myospalax Laxmann, 1773 ,

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

Member of the M. myospalax species group. G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005 considered this group to also include M. aspalax , M. armandii , and fossil species M. young: and M. pseudarmandii. This position has some support based on morphology and has been corroborated, although weakly, by the molecular data of O. V. Tarasov and colleagues in 2011. An alternate hypothesis that M. myospalaxis sisterto all living species of Myospalax is weakly suggested by RAPD-PCR data. Based on those data, M. myospalax was treated as the only member of the M. myospalax group by I. Ya. Pavlinov and A. A. Lissovsky in 2012. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.m.myospalaxLaxmann,1773—ObRiverregioninextremeSTomsk,Novosibirsk,muchofAltaiKrai,andadjacentregionsinAltaiRepublic(Russia)andKazakhstan.

M.m.incertusOgnev,1936—SAltaiMtsofEastKazakhstanRegionandadjacentSRussia.

M. m. tarbagataicus Ognev, 1936 — Ayagoz and Tarbagatay districts in East Kazakhstan Region.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 203-266 mm, tail c.48 mm; weight 200-720 g. Male Altai Zokors are larger than females. Color varies from gray-straw-rust with cinnamon tinge to ocher-rust-gray with grayer tinge. Snout and forehead are lighter. Pelage is denser in winter than summer. Tail and feet are covered in dense gray-whitish yellow fur. Young are grayer than adults. Diploid number is 2n = 44.

Habitat. Forest steppe, meadow steppe, and farmland. Altai Zokors live in areas with shrubs and occasional forest but are absent in dry steppe, stony areas, and core forest. They are present in the Altai Range and surrounding areas and the Tarbagat Range at elevations up to 2750 m. They dig burrows in areas with soft meadow soil and grasses and are often found in meadows ofriver valleys. Although surface temperatures vary wildly in its distribution, burrows exhibit milder annual variation. Soil temperatures at depths of surface tunnels vary from -9°C in winter to 23°C in summer, but deeper chambers stay at 1-10°C.

Food and Feeding. Altai Zokors feed on roots, stems, and leaves of a variety of plants. Roots, bulbs, and young shoots are stored for winter use.

Breeding. Altai Zokors mate in September—-November and until March-April. One litter is produced per year with 1-10 young/litter, usually 3-5 young. Sexual maturity occurs at 7-8 months of age.

Activity patterns. Altai Zokors are primarily active at dusk and dawn.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Altai Zokors live underground except during dispersal of juveniles and occasional aboveground foraging bouts. Burrows are complex, with up to 150 m of tunnels, and go as deep as 40-110 cm. Separate storage, nest, and toilet chambers are found in lower areas, while feeding tunnels are at depths of 5-27 cm. Burrows have separate temporary nests and permanent winter nests. Predators include the Steppe Polecat (Mustela eversmanii), foxes, and raptors.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List and the 2016 China Red List. Altai Zokors occur in some protected areas. Several populations appear to be declining and becoming more isolated. K. Tsytsulina in 2008 indicated that it should be considered near threatened in some parts of its distribution. The Altai Zokor was historically hunted forits pelt, but this has grown less common. It can be a pest of crops, especially tubers and alfalfa, and is subject to control measures.

Bibliography. Gromov & Erbajeva (1995), Jiang Zhigang et al. (2016), Lawrence (1991), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nikol'skii (2008), Ognev (1947), Pavlenko, Tsvirka et al. (2014), Pavlinov & Lissovsky (2012), Puzachenko (2016a), Puzachenko, Pavlenko & Korablev (2009), Puzachenko, Pavlenko, Korablev & Tsvirka (2014), Tarasov et al. (2011), Tsvirka et al. (2011), Tsytsulina (2008a).

Figures

1. Altai Zokor (Myospalax myospalax), 2. Steppe Zokor (Myospalax aspalax), 3. Armand’s Zokor (Mpyospalax armandii), 4. Manchurian Zokor (Myospalax psilurus), 5. Khingan Zokor (Myospalax epsilanus), 6. Fontanier’s Zokor (FEospalax fontaniern), 7. Gansu Zokor (Fospalax cansus), 8. Qinling Zokor (Fospalax rufescens), 9. Plateau Zokor (FEospalax bailey), 10. Rothschild’s Zokor (Eospalax rothschildi), 11. Smith’s Zokor (Eospalax smithu), 12. Chinese Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys sinensis), 13. Hoary Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys pruinosus), 14. Indomalayan Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys sumatrensis), 15. Lesser Bamboo Rat (Cannomys badius), 16. African Root Rat (Tachyoryctes splendens), 17. Giant Root Rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), 18. Oltenia Blind Mole-rat (Spalax istricus), 19. Mehely’s Blind Mole-rat (Spalax antiquus), 20. Bukovina Blind Mole-rat (Spalax graecus), 21. Podolsk Blind Mole-rat (Spalax zemni), 22. Sandy Blind Mole-rat (Spalax arenarius), 23. Greater Blind Mole-rat (Spalax microphthalmus), 24. Giant Blind Mole-rat (Spalax giganteus), 25. Kazakhstan Blind Mole-rat (Spalax uralensis), 26. Lesser Blind Mole-rat (Nannospalax leucodon), 27. Anatolian Blind Mole-rat (Nannospalax xanthodon), 28. Middle East Blind Mole-rat (Nannospalax ehrenbergi)

Subspecies and Distribution. M.m.myospalaxLaxmann,1773—ObRiverregioninextremeSTomsk,Novosibirsk,muchofAltaiKrai,andadjacentregionsinAltaiRepublic(Russia)andKazakhstan. M.m.incertusOgnev,1936—SAltaiMtsofEastKazakhstanRegionandadjacentSRussia. M. m. tarbagataicus Ognev, 1936 — Ayagoz and Tarbagatay districts in East Kazakhstan Region.