Amblysomus corriae, Thomas, 1905

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Chrysochloridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 180-203 : 197

5.

Fynbos Golden Mole

Amblysomus corriae

French: Taupe-dorée du fynbos / German: Fynbos-Goldmull / Spanish: Topo dorado de fynbos

Taxonomy. Amblysomus corriae Thomas, 1905 , Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa .

Amblysomus corriae now includes popula- tions previously treated as subspecies of A. ins (A. i. corriae) and A. hottentotus (A. h. deuvilliersi). Synonyms: swellendamen- sis. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. A. c. corriae Thomas, 1905 — coastal plain below Outeniqua, Kouga, and Baviaan- skloof Mts, from vicinity of George, West-

ern Cape Province, E to Humansdorp, Eastern Cape Province, S South Africa; possibly separated from subspecies devilliersi by Gourits River Valley between Riversdale and George.

A. c. deuvilliersi Roberts, 1946 — from Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area SE along S Cape Mts to Hawequas Forest and Limietberg Mts, and E along coastal plain and slopes of Langeberg Mts to vicinity of Riversdale, Western Cape Province, SW South Africa; does not cross Cape Flats, where the Cape Golden Mole ( Chrysochloris asiatica ) 1s common.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 108-130 mm (males) and 109-130 mm (females), hindfoot 12-16 mm (males) and 12-15 mm (females) for nominotypical corriae , head-body 105-135 mm (males) and 105-130 mm (females), hindfoot 13-16 mm for subspecies devilliersi; weight 46-62 g (males) and 46-64 g (females). The Fynbos Golden Mole is medium-sized, and males are slightly larger and heavier than females. It resembles the Hottentot Golden Mole (A. hottentotus ) in general appearance but is darker. Dorsum is smoky-black, with conspicuous tinge of reddish brown on flanks and abdomen of devilliersi but not corriae . Venter is pale brownish gray ( corriae ) to reddish brown or pale orange (devilliersi). Muzzle and cheeks are somewhat paler, often with small yellowish-brown spots over subdermal eyes. Skull is elongated, zygomatic arches lack broad plates sweeping backward, mallei of inner ears are relatively small and unspecialized, and bullae are not externally evident. M? are absent, molar talonids are well developed, and P1 are sectorial (bicuspid) rather than molariform (tricuspid). Subspecies can be distinguished from each other and from the Hottentot Golden Mole based on cranial morphometrics: anterior interorbital region is significantly narrower in corriae than devilliersi, and palate is more elongate than in devilliersi or the Hottentot Golden Mole.

Conversely, interpterygoid region and rostrum are slightly wider than in the Hottentot Golden Mole. Foreclaws are slightly slenderer than in the Hottentot Golden Mole, and claw on third digit is largest. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 30 and FN = 56.

Habitat. Sandy and soft loamy soils in Mountain Fynbos, Grassy Fynbos, and Renosterveld, and Afro-montane forest and moist savanna along southern Cape coast at elevations of ¢.10-1200 m. The Fynbos Golden Mole coexists with the Cape Golden Mole in Stellenbosch and Paarl, although it favors richer and wetter soils. It coexists with Duthie’s Golden Mole ( Chlorotalpa duthieae ) along southern Cape coast but might select different microhabitats, with the Fynbos Golden Mole preferring forest fringes and associated fynbos and Duthie’s Golden Mole preferring deeper forest. In its southern distribution, the Fynbos Golden Mole appears to be confined to higher elevation, montane fynbos habitats. It thrives in gardens, cultivated lands, golf courses, and livestock paddocks and is also present in exotic plantations, apparently at lower densities.

Food and Feeding. The Fynbos Golden Mole is insectivorous, mainly feeding on earthworms and insects. In captivity, it will eat a variety of food items, including mealworms, grasshoppers, young mice, and occasionally minced meat. Stomach contents of three wild individuals had only small earthworms.

Breeding. Fynbos Golden Moles probably breed aseasonally because pregnant females have been captured in August, May, and December. Mean litter size is two; young are altricial and hairless at birth.

Activity patterns. Fynbos Golden Moles are terrestrial and predominantly nocturnal, foraging in subsurface tunnels mainly at night. They occasionally emerge to capture prey on the soil surface and drag it underground before consuming it, often making soft chirruping vocalizations.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Fynbos Golden Mole is solitary, except during breeding and when females raising young.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Fynbos Golden Mole has a large extent of occurrence (greater than 20,000 km?), butit is confirmed at only 16 locations, with an area of occupancy less than 500 km?. Overall population is not severely fragmented and is conserved in protected areas in South Africa.

Bibliography. Bronner (1995a, 2013b), Bronner & Mynhardt (2015a), Broom (1907), Meester et al. (1986), Mynhardt et al. (2015).

Figures

0. Yellow Golden Mole (Calcochloris obtusirostris), 1. Hottentot Golden Mole (Amblysomus hottentotus), 2. Robust Golden Mole (Amblysomus robustus), 3. Highveld Golden Mole (Amblysomus septentrionalis), 4. Marley’s Golden Mole (Amblysomus marleyi), 5. Fynbos Golden Mole (Amblysomus corriae), 7. Congo Golden Mole (Huetia leucorhina), 8. Somali Golden Mole (Huetia tytonis), 9. Gunning’s Golden Mole (Neamblysomus gunningi), 10. Juliana’s Golden Mole (Neamblysomus julianae), 11. Arend’s Golden Mole (Carpitalpa arendsi), 12. Sclater’s Golden Mole (Chlorotalpa sclateri), 13. Duthie’s Golden Mole (Chlorotalpa duthieae), 14. Stuhlmann’s Golden Mole (Chrysochloris stuhlmanni), 15. Cape Golden Mole (Chrysochloris asiatica), 16. Visagie’s Golden Mole (Chrysochloris visagier), 17. Rough-haired Golden Mole (Chrysospalax villosa), 18. Giant Golden Mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani), 19. De Winton’s Golden Mole (Cryptochloris wintoni), 20. Van Zyl's Golden Mole (Cryptochloris zyli), 21. Grant's Golden Mole (Eremitalpa grant)