Cryptomys hottentotus (Lesson 1826)

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Bathyergidae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 1538-1542 : 1540

Cryptomys hottentotus (Lesson 1826)

[Bathyergus] hottentotus Lesson 1826 , Zool., Vol. 1: 166.

Type Locality: South Africa, Western Cape Prov., near Paarl (east of Capetown).

Vernacular Names: Southern African Mole-rat.

Subspecies: :

Subspecies Cryptomys hottentotus subsp. hottentotus Lesson 1826

Subspecies Cryptomys hottentotus subsp. natalensis Roberts 1913

Subspecies Cryptomys hottentotus subsp. whytei Thomas 1897

Distribution: South Africa to Tanzania, S Dem. Rep. Congo, and Namibia.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Includes holosericeus and natalensis ( de Graaff, 1975:3-4; Honeycutt et al., 1991:51). Corbet and Hill (1991:208) recognized natalensis as a distinct species without comment. De Graff (1975, 1981) recognized seven subspecies ( amatus , bocagei , damarensis , hottentatus, natalensis, and whytei) but amatus , bocagei , damarensis and darlingi have subsequently been considered distinct species. Karyotype of C. h. hottentotus has 2n=54 and FN=106 ( Nevo et al., 1986) and C. h. natalensis has 2n=54 and FN=104 ( Nevo et al., 1986).